Fate

by TheTrueSpartan

When Ron discovers that he can see the future, his entire fate is thrown off of its course. A story about adventure, friendship, growing up, and pushing forward through hardships. This story will get darker as it progresses, just like the original Harry Potter novels. It will cover all Seven Years of Hogwarts, but mostly from Ron's perspective. No Mary Sues, no Character bashing.

109. Chapter 109 - Change is Good

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Chapter 109 is finally here! I have returned from my 'break', but truth be told, it wasn't much of a break. I got a lot of my affairs in order, and now I can go back to writing this story. So, here's hoping that things stay in control from now on.

Please enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not intend to make any money off of this. Harry Potter is the intellectual property of J. K. Rowling , and I take no credit of it whatsoever.

I was also inspired by Demon Eyes Laharl's: THE RED KNIGHT! and also from Random-Fruitcake04's: CHOICES! I hope you check them out as well because they are genuinely very good stories.

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'Behold... The abyss is made manifest' - The Ancestor from Darkest Dungeon

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Fate

Chapter 109 – Change is Good

Ronald Weasley's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Ministry – Late Afternoon)

"I can still take the blame, Daph," Ron offered, his eyes examining Daphne's fidgety behavior.

Daphne looked rather tempted, but then her face pinched a little. She was definitely tempted to take my offer, but knowing her, she doesn't want me getting into too much trouble.

"No," Daphne refused. "It wouldn't be right."

"You know I'm used to fighting with the adults," Ron tugged at her hand. "I wouldn't hold this against you."

"I appreciate that, but you only came to me in order to help me out," Daphne smiled a little. "I chose to accept your offer. You shouldn't be blamed for my choices."

"Maybe your father will go easy on you if tell him that everything worked out for you," Ron said comfortingly.

"It'll soften him up, but he'll still be angry over my disobedience," Daphne said. "It's different for girls, Ron… We're expected to follow our fathers' commands without fail, and I showed him great disrespect by running off like that."

"I… I don't really know what to say about that…" Ron admitted. "I'm not a girl…" Ronald Weasley, the failed Mind-Healer.

"Cute," Daphne chuckled weakly, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "You don't have to say anything, Ron. I need to compose myself, and then, I need to face him. I'll accept whatever punishment he has in store, because let's be honest, he didn't deserve to spend his day worrying over my safety."

"So you'll just accept punishment for doing what was necessary?" Ron asked.

"Just because it was necessary doesn't mean that it was right," Daphne shrugged. That makes… no sense whatsoever. If something is necessary, then it needs to be done. Why feel bad about it? And why accept punishment so blindly to boot?

"If that's how you feel, then we ought to get going," Ron said, and when Daphne gave him a nod, Ron pulled her along with him towards the fireplace. She's definitely dragging her feet.

"You can do this, Daphne," Daphne whispered to herself repeatedly, and Ron shot a wary look back.

"I'll get the floo ready," Ron said, but Daphne didn't even hear him. Alright, I'm starting to worry.

Ron grabbed a pinch of floo powder, and he tossed it into the fireplace.

"The Burrow," Ron called, and the flames roared as they turned green. "Alright, let's go."

"You go first," Daphne nudged him, and Ron did as he was told.

The moment Ron stepped into the Burrow's Living Room, he saw Lord Greengrass pacing up and down. The pale man immediately noticed Ron, and just as he came to an abrupt stop, Daphne stepped into the Living Room through the fireplace.

"You're safe," Mary sighed out, looking more relieved than angry.

"Hello," Ron greeted everyone, which earned him various looks from the adults.

Sirius and Arthur just shook their heads at him, while Molly and Pandora were staring right into his eyes. James and Susana Davis both looked quite bewildered by Ron's casual greeting, they clearly didn't understand that Ron felt very little guilt over his actions. As for Lord Greengrass, the man began to march right towards Daphne with his right hand raised. Is he going to hit her?! Ron immediately moved between Lord Greengrass and Daphne, while Daphne shrunk in her spot with her head bowed.

"Touch her, and I'll rip your hands off," Ron warned, and his words stopped Lord Greengrass. Try me, cunt.

"Ronald!" Molly looked scandalized.

"Husband, don't!" Mary quickly moved off of her seat, and she was pulling Daphne behind her before anyone knew what was what.

"How dare you?!" Lord Greengrass yelled at Daphne, which only frightened her even more. He's yelling… Bloody hell, I've never seen him raise his voice like this before. "Do you have any idea how worried we've been?!"

"Seb, mate…" Sirius said calmingly. "Relax, please. They're home, and they're safe."

"This has nothing to do with you, Black," Lord Greengrass hissed as he shot a scornful look at the ex-Gryffindor.

"Ron, come over here," Arthur beckoned him. "Move out of his way." And let him hit Daphne? Fuck that.

"I'm not doing that until he calms down," Ron refused, his eyes fixed on Lord Greengrass. "Daphne hasn't done anything to warrant physical abuse-"

"You… You disrespectful little cur…" Lord Greengrass snarled, his face twisting with contempt. "I bring you into my home, my Family, and this is how you repay me? You drag my daughter off to another country without my permission, or knowledge?"

"He didn't drag me anywhere, father…" Daphne mumbled. "I chose to go…"

"Daphne, be quiet," Mary said, though her eyes were fixed on her enraged husband. "Sebastian, calm yourself. You are taking things too far."

"You're fired," Sebastian told Ron, who grimaced immediately. "You and I are finished. You will not speak to my daughters again, do you understand?"

"NO!" Daphne sounded genuinely terrified.

"No, I don't," Ron said coldly, his own temper ignited. If it weren't for me, you'd be sucking the Dark Lord's cock by now. "Fire me if you want, but don't tell me who I can, or can't, associate with."

"No one is getting fired," Mary said, while Daphne looked completely panicked. "Sebastian, please… You're scaring your own daughter…"

"And you!" Lord Greengrass glared at Daphne. "How could you do something like this?! I raised you to use your brain, didn't I?!"

"I'm sorry…" Daphne shriveled behind Mary.

"I've given you the entire World, and you don't have it in you to show me even an ounce of respect?" Lord Greengrass' voice turned hollow. "Your Family has spent the entire day worrying over you, and all you have to say is that you're 'sorry'?" Lord Greengrass then looked to Mary. "Take her home, while I fetch Astoria. We're leaving."

"There is no need for that," Molly pleaded. "Sebastian, think of the consequences of you leaving the Burrow…" Consequences? Oh, the war.

"We're not going anywhere," Mary said, and then she nudged Daphne towards the back exit. "Go upstairs, Daphne. Go."

Daphne lingered, her teary eyes fixed on Ron, but he was too busy staring at Lord Greengrass with an eerily calm look. Mary nudged Daphne again, and the blonde witch slowly disappeared from everyone's sight. Good… There's no chance of her getting hit now.

"You're disobeying me as well?" Lord Greengrass looked right through his wife.

"I'm doing what's best for my daughters," Mary said, though her voice lost much of its strength because of her husband's anger. "You're not thinking clearly, Sebastian…"

"Ronald Weasley, explain yourself this instant," Molly ordered, her face had turned red with anger.

The adults all looked to Ron, while Lord Greengrass began pacing again in an effort to regain his composure.

"I had to go to France to deal with the French," Ron started, his eyes fixed on Lord Greengrass. "I had ten minutes to catch my Portkey, which was arranged by my boss, so I couldn't afford to delay. Still, I chose to run down here because I knew that Daphne wanted to reach out to her potential business partners. We barely made it to the Portkey in time, so I assure you, we had no time to waste."

"How convenient," Lord Greengrass hissed under his breath.

"Why would I go out of my way to antagonize you?" Ron asked calmly. "I saw an opportunity to fix more than one mess, and I took it. Daphne managed to convince Emilia Travers and the Heroux Family to continue their future partnership, and she secured the Lenoirs hand in business as well."

"I don't care about her business plans right now," Lord Greengrass fumed. "You took her away from the safety of this house, and a million things could've gone wrong. You wouldn't be the one burying your daughter."

"Sebastian…" Mary rubbed her forehead.

"She spent most of her day with the Lenoir Family in their perfectly safe mansion," Ron explained. "I even had Madame Maxime accompany her for pretty much the entire day." Ron then drew in a deep breath. "I'm not an idiot. I didn't leave Daphne alone while I conducted my business. She was surrounded by powerful wizards and witches."

Lord Greengrass said nothing, but his pacing began to slow down.

"The kid clearly took precautions," Sirius said, though he didn't look too pleased with Ron either. "She was safe, Seb…"

"She is my daughter, and I didn't raise her to act this way," Lord Greengrass grit out. "Ever since she met him, she's become increasingly rebellious."

"Don't blame me for your shortcomings," Ron shut the man down immediately. "All I did was give her a choice, and she jumped at the chance to take control of her own life. She told me all about your recent behavior… You took away her notes, and then, you all but cut her out of her own business ventures."

"My name commands more respect," Lord Greengrass said., while Mary looked baffled by this new information "I was helping her."

"By telling her to do nothing while you 'fixed' everything for her?" Ron asked. "Please… She regrets asking you for help, and I don't blame her. She worked her arse off on those deals, and you don't even respect her enough to let her try." Ron then shook his head. "Don't blame me for your imagined slights, Lord Greengrass. If you had just given her a chance to prove herself, she wouldn't have run off with me. Oh, and I haven't fueled her 'rebellious' nature… Daphne has a way of getting whatever she wants, even if it means taking an unorthodox approach. She's always been like that, and I know that you know that."

Ron then looked to his mother, who was slightly less red in the face now.

"Did you go to your appointment?" Ron asked her, but she didn't say anything. "Great… So I wasted ten Galleons for no reason whatsoever. Solid work, mum. Truly remarkable." More money thrown down the toilet. Maybe I should stop wasting my efforts on them altogether? They clearly don't appreciate it.

"You bribed a man," Molly broke her silence. "Charlie told me…"

"And?" Ron cocked an eyebrow, making the adults exchange looks. "Yes, I bribed a man, but I did it for your back. No one else even cared enough to notice, mum, but I went out of my way to help you. But sadly for me, none of you agree with my 'manipulative' methods… I apparently spend my free time turning your children against you, eh?"

Ron then looked back to Lord Greengrass, who looked more annoyed than angry.

"If I find out that you put your hands on her, there will be consequences," Ron promised. "She only wanted to show you that she can stand on her own two feet… Don't punish her for that." I need to go find Daphne. She's probably crying in some secluded corner right about now.

Ron began making his way towards the Kitchen, but Sirius stopped him by calling out.

"What happened with the French?" Sirius asked.

"We heard that the others turned on you as well," Susana added.

"Oh, that…" Ron turned around with a 'smile'. "I took care of it."

"Took care of it?" Arthur asked slowly, why was his son smiling in such a cruel manner?

"I had Lady Abadie, and her cuckold of a husband, thrown in prison," Ron told them, and even Lord Greengrass looked stunned.

"What?" Pandora muttered. "How?"

"I revealed her plot to the French Ministry, and we all decided that she needed to be stopped," Ron replied. "The other conspirators will be set free with a warning, but only if they testify against her in court. I also had Christina Couture picked up by French Aurors, and they delivered her to her parents. The French Families now understand that I'm not to be opposed, and if they're smart, they'll stay in line from now on."

Ron then turned to leave. I'm coming, Daph. Just hold on.

"You haven't explained how you convinced the French to lock up one of their own," James said, and Ron shot a quick look back.

"They wanted to avoid a scandal, and I showed them that a war could be on their hands before long," Ron said. "Plus, I possess my own Media outlet. I can easily publish whatever 'truth' I want, and a majority of my readers will eat it up. I promised the French Ministry that if they didn't comply with my demands, I'd turn the Veelas into undesirables number one."

"You used the Quibbler as a threat…" Xeno sounded quite taken aback. There's always someone who finds a reason to complain about my actions, isn't there?

"I did," Ron said. "It is my business, and I can use it however I want."

Ron then turned around to face Xeno, his eyes digging into the eccentric man's.

"Do you have a problem with that, Xenophilius?" Ron asked, and Xeno looked down at the ground. That's what I thought. "You can all look shocked and disgusted by me, but just know that unlike all of you, I actually do something to make the World a better place. I'm done putting up with your constant doubt and questions. It's unfair that I'm the only one who has his flaws constantly pointed out, despite all of you spending your time doing nothing."

"Ron… We don't treat you that way…" Arthur said weakly, though truth be told, he knew that he had a record of focusing on Ron's negative traits.

"Yeah, you do," Ron sounded genuinely tired all of a sudden. Why am I even whining about this? They're not going to listen. They haven't listened at all over the last two years.

Without another word, Ron left the Living Room. Now, if I were Daphne Greengrass, where would I go to cry? I'd stay away from people, so upstairs is off-limits. I'd also make sure that I couldn't be found by chance, so she's not in the house. Ron looked to the exit that led into the backyard, and he saw that the door wasn't closed. She'd hide behind the outhouse in order to stay out of sight. Merlin, Daph… It's freezing out there.

Ron quickly made his way outside, and once he had the outhouse in sight, he all but ran towards it. He also quickly made sure that none of the other children were looking out of the windows, and much to his relief, he saw no one. She'd become genuinely depressed if she found out that the others knew about her current state. As he neared outhouse, he began hearing stifled sobbing. Ron immediately slowed down in order to not spook her, and when he rounded the corner, he found Daphne crying into her knees. She's shivering, so I need to warm her up first.

"Hello," Ron whispered, and Daphne's head jerked up.

"Are… Are you still fired?" Daphne coughed out, and Ron honestly didn't know the answer to that. Probably, but I don't really care. Chess hardly seems more than a hobby now that the war is just around the corner. I need to focus on more important things than my Chess career.

"I'm not sure," Ron sat down beside her, his arm quickly wrapping around her shaking shoulders. "Your father is still quite upset, but he's not yelling anymore."

"I didn't think that he'd be that furious…" Daphne squeaked. It's because you don't know about the Dark Lord's return. He was genuinely scared, and that set him off. "He tried to hit me…"

"Your mother is calming him down," Ron said as he pulled her closer into his side. "Don't worry, Daph… I told him of what you accomplished, and why you chose to leave with me. He looked… thoughtful… At least for a few moments. Once he's calmed down, I'm sure he'll regret taking things so far. That's when you can approach him and sort things out."

"You shouldn't have… threatened him…" Daphne sniffled, and Ron let out a sigh.

"I know…" Ron said as he pulled out a handkerchief. "It's just… When I saw him coming at you, something snapped in my head. I didn't even have time to think."

"I see…" Daphne mumbled, and Ron began cleaning her face. "He doesn't want you talking to me anymore…"

"Daphne, that is not going to happen," Ron said comfortingly. "I promise, alright? He was angry, and people don't think when they're angry. I mean, just look at your boyfriend."

Daphne managed a choked laugh, but it was gone just as quickly as it had come.

"What if it does happen?" Daphne asked weakly.

"Then we'll date in secret," Ron tried to cheer her up. "Just like when we first started kissing. We'll sneak around Hogwarts, and try to hide from our Families when we're home. It'll be a 'forbidden love' sort of thing."

"I'm trying to be serious, Ron," Daphne sniffled, and Ron finished dabbing her tear-tracks away. Okay, she looks much better now.

"As am I," Ron smiled a little. "Haven't you read any fairytales about princes and princesses before? Everything will be just fine, I promise."

"Okay…" Daphne latched onto his side. "It's cold out here…"

"Do you want to go inside?" Ron asked as he rubbed her arm.

"No," Daphne replied. "I don't want people seeing me in tears… Tori and Tracey especially."

"I'll cast the Warming Charm, then," Ron pulled out his wand, and once he had cast the Charm, he placed his wand by his free hand. "Merlin… What a difference that Charm makes."

"I feel better already…" Daphne's body relaxed considerably.

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Ten Minutes Later

"It's starting to snow," Ron whispered, and Daphne finally reared her head.

"Oh… The Warming Charm made me forget how cold it is," Daphne said, her voice was rather hoarse. "I still don't want to go inside, though."

"We can sit inside the outhouse," Ron offered. "It'll be dark in there, but at least we don't have to deal with the snow."

"Kid! Daphne!" came Sirius' voice, and then, the handsome man rounded the corner. "There you are… My nose is as sharp as always." Huh? "You alright, Daphne?"

"Yes," Daphne lied, making sure to clear her throat before speaking.

"You two should come inside now," Sirius looked to Ron. "It's starting to snow, and a Warming Charm won't be enough to keep you two from getting sick."

"Is my father still furious?" Daphne asked in a subdued voice.

"He… Um… He went home," Sirius replied slowly, and Daphne's face dropped. "Your mum went with him, and she wanted to let you know that she plans to calm him down. You, Tracey, and Astoria are spending the night here."

"What?" Daphne blinked.

"There's room, I'm sure," Sirius said. "Now, please come inside."

Daphne nudged Ron's side, and he knew what she wanted immediately.

"Can you give us a bit of time, Sirius?" Ron asked. "Just enough to let Daphne compose herself."

"The others aren't home," Sirius told them. "The children, that is… Charlie and Kirsten took them to the village. Hermione really wanted to see it, so they made a day out of it. They left around midday, and won't be back for a while yet."

"Oh," Ron and Daphne said together.

"Come on," Sirius gestured them to stand. "You two could use some hot chocolate."

"We can spend our time in my room," Ron whispered to Daphne. "Just until Tracey, Theo, and Malfoy get back."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Daphne finally smiled a little, and Ron quickly helped her up.

"Daphne, why don't you go on ahead?" Sirius asked. "I need to speak to Ron really quickly." You mean you want to whine in my ear. Great.

"Go on," Ron put on a smile. "I'll be right up."

Daphne looked between the two wizards, and then, she left quietly. Ron and Sirius watched her leave in silence, and once she was inside the Burrow, Sirius turned to face Ron.

"You took it too far today, Ron," Sirius said, his voice was rather firm. "Seb might have been a prick about it, but he wasn't wrong. You put his daughter in danger, and what's worse is that you don't care one bit about it."

"There was no danger," Ron said. "She was with-"

"Yeah, I know," Sirius cut him off. "She was with powerful wizards and witches. I understand that you took precautions, and that Daphne was quite safe, but Ron… Her parents didn't know that. They spent the entire day worrying over her, and they had no way of knowing what she was up to. You should've gone to them before giving Daphne that choice."

"I didn't have time," Ron said, and Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, you did," Sirius argued. "But you were too busy being a lunatic to care."

"Pardon?"

"Your mother told us about the state that you were in when you showed up at the Burrow," Sirius said. "Laughing maniacally, arms flailing about, and angry beyond reason."

"I admit that I was… upset… but I wasn't so out of my mind that I'd risk her safety," Ron said.

"Well, we had no way of knowing that," Sirius gave Ron a deadpan look. "Even the other children were left startled by your appearance, so you can only imagine the state of us adults. I had half a mind to follow you to France, while Seb was only staying put for his wife's sake."

"Look, I know that today was hectic, but I honestly didn't plan to upset people," Ron said truthfully. "I was not trying to antagonize Lord Greengrass, nor did I want to worry him. Things just… spiraled… but I did my best to keep everything under control. Now, saying all of that, I still think that Lord Greengrass trying to hit Daphne was uncalled for."

"Parents, especially Pure-Blood parents, sometimes discipline their children," Sirius sighed out. "Though I do agree with you on that… Children shouldn't be stuck across the face for doing stupid shit… It fucks them up, trust me."

"Once he calms down a bit more, I'll talk to him myself," Ron promised. "If anyone should be punished, it ought to be me. Daphne just wanted to prove to him that she didn't need him treating her like a child."

"Then maybe she ought to act a little more mature, then," Sirius pinched the bridge of his nose. "What a proper mess…"

"Well, what's done is done," Ron said, and Sirius cocked an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"You really don't care, do you?" Sirius asked, and Ron simply shrugged. "Merlin, kid… You're becoming colder than Seb himself."

"Yes, I am the worst, aren't I?" Ron drawled. "I'm heading inside." I might be cold, but I'm also quite efficient. One day, they'll be grateful for my 'cold' actions.

"What was that quip about you doing something to make the World a better place, while we do nothing?" Sirius asked, and Ron just stared at him. How should I respond to that?

"It wasn't a quip, it was the truth," Ron replied. "None of you do anything to help the World become a better place."

"Is that so?" Sirius crossed his arms.

"Sirius, what do you do all day?" Ron asked. "Answer honestly, please."

"I… I…" Sirius thought about it, but he genuinely did nothing most days.

"You do nothing," Ron said. "I'm not trying to be a prick here, but even you must understand that you are wasting your freedom. I mean, you were invited to join the Wizengamot, and you didn't even bother to reply to them."

"Wait… How do you know about that?" Sirius asked.

"I have people who tell me things," Ron deflected the question. "So? Why didn't you reply to them?"

"I'm not working with those bastards," Sirius frowned deeply. "They threw me away for ten years without a fucking trial."

"As terrible as that was, you're letting your past stop you from doing great things," Ron gave his opinion. I'd kill to have such an opportunity given to me, and you're just wasting it for no reason besides spite.

"What great things would I accomplish with a bunch of old twats?" Sirius asked.

"For one, you could help fight for people like Remus," Ron pointed out, and Sirius quickly lost his frown. "You could also help improve the Black Family's ill reputation. You could make allies with like-minded people, and with their help, work to clean up the corruption within the Ministry. Corruption that led to you being locked away without a trial, I might add. You could also learn quite a lot from those 'old twats', and then pass that knowledge onto Harry. Oh, and you could-"

"I get it," Sirius stopped him. "Look… I've never been interested in politics, and I don't think I ever will be."

"You think I enjoy busting my arse every day?" Ron asked. "For fuck's sake, Sirius, I've worked myself into an early grave."

Sirius blinked at that, his posture changing to a far less hostile one.

"It's fine," Ron assured the man. "I've thought about it a lot, and I've decided that crying over spilled milk is a waste of my limited time. What I'm trying to say is that just because you don't enjoy something doesn't mean that it's not important. Take my dad, for example… His job at the Ministry literally does nothing to help the Muggles in the long run, but he keeps doing it simply because he enjoys it. He could instead focus his attention on climbing the ladder, and from up there, start implementing legislations that actually benefit Muggles and Muggle-Borns."

"I take it that you don't approve of your dad's job," Sirius said.

"I'm glad that he works in a field that keeps him happy, but there's no denying that he could do more for the Muggles that he supposedly loves," Ron stated. "You can't expect change to come simply because you adhere to certain values. You have to fight to make that change happen. Now, it's clear to me that the adults don't approve of my methods, but I ask you, what have any of you done to implement your beliefs?"

Sirius said nothing, which was exactly the answer Ron was expecting. What's that saying about beating a dead Hippogriff?

"I'm heading inside," Ron repeated. "Are you coming with me?"

"Yeah," Sirius muttered under his breath. "Silver-tongued prick…"

"Brain-dead bitch," Ron smirked, and then he began making his way towards the Burrow.

"Your dad went back to work, by the way," Sirius told Ron. "As for your mum… She's not exactly pleased with you right now."

"Yes, I've 'embarrassed' her by acting this way," Ron rolled his eyes.

"In short, you really have," Sirius said. "Who do you think Seb blamed for his missing daughter? Besides you, that is." Damn, that's not really fair on her when I think about it. She ended up being blamed for my actions. Ugh… Now I feel a little guilty.

"If he really wants someone to blame, he ought to look in the mirror," Ron said.

As they made their way inside the Burrow, Ron spotted Daphne sitting on the dining table with the Lovegoods and the Davis Family. She had a cup of hot chocolate in her hands, and judging by her fallen posture, Ron figured that she was enduring an awkward silence.

"Ronald Weasley," Molly turned to face him from the Kitchen sink. "You will apologize to Sebastian, and I will hear nothing on the matter."

"I will, but only once he calms down," Ron assured her, and she gave him a curt nod. "I'm… I'm sorry that you were blamed for my actions. I will tell Lord Greengrass that what happened was entirely on me."

"And me," Daphne added guiltily, while Molly looked shocked by Ron's apology. What? I'm not above admitting my mistakes.

"Good," Molly said, and then she went back to washing dishes. I've broken her mind, haven't I?

Ron noticed that, once again, her free hand was resting on her lower back. No, Ron. You already wasted ten Galleons on her back, and she didn't even bother to go to her appointment. Don't waste another Knut. But still… Look at her. She's clearly in pain…

"I can still set up an appointment for you," Ron heard himself say. Ron, you dumb fuck! "Tomorrow's Christmas, and I know that you'll be running around all day. I can set something up for tomorrow morning."

"There's no need for that," Molly said without looking back. "Your father's promised to help me sort out my back once he's home."

"Alright," Ron decided to back off. Well, I can at least say that I offered. "Daph, do you want to go up to my room?"

"Yes, please," Daphne quickly stood up, and the other adults stopped their conversations in order to shoot Daphne sorry looks. At least they're sympathetic towards her. Maybe that'll help calm Lord Greengrass down?

---

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Headmaster's Office - Evening)

Ron had managed to sneak out of the Burrow with the help of Marty, and now he was waiting for Fawkes to fetch Dumbledore. The other children were still away on their trip, Daphne was taking a much needed nap, and the adults were too busy setting up to notice Ron sneak past them with the use of the Disillusionment Charm. He knew that he was on thin ice, but his need to inform Dumbledore of what had transpired in France had conquered his better judgment.

The sound of roaring flames broke Ron out of his daydreaming, and he quickly looked back to see Fawkes and Dumbledore standing in the middle of the Office. I wonder how Fawkes found him. Are they connected somehow? Sort of like Marty and me? I mean, Marty can find me anywhere when I call for him, so maybe Fawkes can do the same with Dumbledore.

"Ronald," Dumbledore greeted, while Fawkes flew over to his perch. "Fawkes tells me that you have something important to tell me."

"I do, but you should probably sit down for it," Ron said, and Dumbledore smiled as he began making his way towards his grand chair.

"Your love for being dramatic never ceases to amuse me," Dumbledore said as he sat down. I'm not that dramatic, am I? No, wait… I totally am.

"I'm an emotional guy," Ron shrugged with a half-smile. "The drama just comes with it."

"Yes, I'm sure," Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Well? What has happened that requires me to sit down?"

"I had Lady Abadie arrested by French Aurors," Ron replied rather bluntly, and Dumbledore just stared at him. "Are you glad that you're sitting, now?"

"Yes," Dumbledore sighed out, his eyes becoming slightly dull. "Ronald… Why?"

"Why did I have her arrested?" Ron asked. "Could you be more specific, please?"

"Why did you not come to me before making such a decision?" Dumbledore asked. "She knows of the Order, and therefore, she can implicate us all in a conspiracy."

"She won't really get the chance," Ron said, he needed to bring Dumbledore into the loop. Otherwise, he might do something that ruins my plan out of ignorance. Communication is essential in our partnership, or we'll repeat something like the Albania Inferno.

"Won't get the chance?" Dumbledore asked. "Has the French Ministry set her free already?"

"Oh, they won't be letting her go," Ron said. "They're actually getting the other conspirators to testify against Lady Abadie and her husband. Both of them aren't going anywhere, I'm sure of it."

"I'm afraid that you have lost me," Dumbledore said. "Tell me everything, Ronald."

"I told the French Ministry of Lady Abadie's ambitions, and I used the evidence gathered by Corban Yaxley to frame her as the heart of the conspirators," Ron explained, and Dumbledore listened without a hint of emotion on his face. "The French weren't willing to arrest her at first, but I promised to use the Quibbler to defame them, and the Veelas, to the point of being hated worldwide. It certainly helped the French Minister change his tune about Lady Abadie."

"And why did you do this?" Dumbledore asked, and Ron was left a little confused by the question.

"Because she needed to be dealt with?" Ron's brow furrowed. Wait… Why am I phrasing that like a question? It's a fact. "Headmaster… She was planning to start a takeover of our government, and with an army of mind-controlling Veelas, she could've succeeded. Can you imagine fighting her, and the Dark Lord at the same time? We'd be done for."

"But now she is cornered, and she has information that can end the Order," Dumbledore stated.

"I know," Ron said calmly. "Which is why I've arranged for her… elimination… from the board."

"Elimination?" Dumbledore looked slightly wary now. "Ronald… What did you do?"

"Lady Abadie, and her husband, will be poisoned in their cells pretty soon," Ron replied, and Dumbledore just stared at Ron. He doesn't approve, does he? "It's the only option, Headmaster."

"Killing is never the only option," Dumbledore said, he looked rather disappointed. I won't lie; I don't like him looking at me like that. It makes me feel like a piece of shit… Even more than usual, that is.

"It's not pretty, but I can't think of anything else," Ron said. "She knows about the Order, she knows about the Dark Lord, and she wants to launch her own war. We can't just let her run about, especially now that the Dark Lord's return is imminent. Plus, her actions could result in the Veela community being shunned the World over. I'm sorry, but she's too dangerous to be left alive."

"Did you consider Obliviation?" Dumbledore asked.

"I did, and from what I know about it, she's known about the Order for too long," Ron recited his textbook. "Wouldn't wiping her memories of the Order at this point drive her insane? Is that really better than death?"

"You should not have done something so drastic without consulting me," Dumbledore said.

"I did what I thought was best, and whenever you've done that, I've always stood by you," Ron said. "Even when I didn't agree with your plans, I supported them. Now, please tell me what else I could've done? She left us no choice. Her greed was so great that she decided to use the Dark Lord's return to her own advantage. Letting her live would come back to bite us in the arse, and you know it."

"We could've imprisoned her ourselves," Dumbledore suggested.

"And the French would come looking," Ron countered. "She has many friends, and most of them would grow curious about her disappearance."

"But not of her murder?" Dumbledore asked.

"A lot of people want her gone," Ron shrugged. "The French Ministry has reason to avoid a massive scandal, the Veela tribes of the mountains are known to be vindictive, the French Families aren't fond of her, and some would argue that even the British Pure-Bloods dislike the French enough to commit murder. Actually, given their history, people will definitely suspect Pure-Bloods like Corban Yaxley."

"You planned this, I see," Dumbledore wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

"This is no different from what happened with the Werewolves, Headmaster," Ron said. "Remember that?"

"I do," Dumbledore rubbed his chin.

"If we didn't do the hard thing back then, we'd have an army of Werewolves to fight against," Ron said. "And if we don't do something about Lady Abadie, we'll have an army of Veelas to fight against. Oh, and these Veelas are not just poor and uneducated Werewolves, they are wealthy and powerful witches who can seduce men with a glance. We can't hope to win against such overwhelming odds, Headmaster."

"You aren't wrong about that," Dumbledore admitted. "But tell me, Ronald, is Lady Abadie's murder just for the sake of the future? Or did you do this in an effort to exact revenge against an individual who wronged you?"

"Can't it be both?" Ron asked in a rather honest voice. "I won't deny that her actions have really pissed me off, and that I've thought of causing her harm… But, despite my personal grievances, I am more concerned about the damage she can inflict during the war. And she wouldn't just be hurting us, but she'd also be hurting the Veela community by dividing it. She literally only serves herself, and that makes her very dangerous. It'd be like your queen piece deciding to make a third party on the board, and then proceeding to kill indiscriminately. The whole game would get fucked."

"And she was our queen piece…" Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face. "What a waste of life."

"She made her choice, and that's not on us," Ron said. "Well, that's what I think, anyway. I spent a great deal of time wondering why she did this, and nothing came to me. I even blamed myself for a bit, but that did nothing except make me feel miserable. All I can say is that she doesn't care about anyone but herself, and we gave her the chance to be a team player."

"And who is poisoning her?" Dumbledore asked. "What if they decide to out you?" I know for a fact that Emilia is terrified of me. Well, she's terrified of the Entity, but… We are one in the same.

A pang of pain traveled up Ron's head, but he quickly ignored it. Damn migraines.

"I trust them, and they haven't let me down yet," Ron deflected the question, and the old wizard decided not to prod. "Sorry, Headmaster, but some people don't need to know about our partnership." Actually, you don't need to know about my partnership with Emilia. I need someone morally ambiguous on my side, and she's perfect. "The only question now is if Lady Abadie will talk before she gets eliminated."

"For the next few days, she will try to win her case legally," Dumbledore figured. "She is trying to get out of a Conspiracy charge, so discussing one she took part in will not help her. Only when she has no option besides mutual destruction will she reveal information regarding the Order. She might even try to negotiate her freedom with us."

"If she can stay quiet for a couple of days, then this ends well for us," Ron said. "Anyway, I only came here to let you know what was happening. I'd better head back home before people start looking for me."

"Promise me that you'll come to me the next time you decide to take such drastic measures," Dumbledore said.

"I promise," Ron said. "But… If some important decision comes along, and I'm pressed for time, I will do what I must. That's fair, right? You have to trust me, Headmaster, just like I trust you."

"Very well," Dumbledore gave a nod, and then he reached into his desk and pulled out a bunch of papers. "The permits came through this morning."

"That quickly?" Ron asked, he was genuinely surprised. "It's been less than a day…"

"After you left, I travelled to the Ministry," Dumbledore handed Ron the papers. "I spoke with Kingsley in person, and explained to him that these children needed to be able to defend themselves should they be attacked. After all, they are the children of Order members, which makes them targets to the less honorable of the Dark Lord's followers. He quickly filled out the paperwork, and then buried it in order to avoid unnecessary questions."

"Shouldn't you hand these out, then?" Ron asked. "What if people ask me how I got them? My dad is friends with Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"Tell them that you beat me in a game of Chess, and my help with this favor was your reward," Dumbledore said, and Ron blinked at him. "It looks better if these come from you, Ronald, especially on Christmas."

"You want the other children to be grateful to me instead of you?" Ron asked, and Dumbledore gave a nod. What is he playing at? "Alright, then… If you're certain that this is what you want, who am I to argue?"

"Keep me in the loop, please," Dumbledore said as Ron stood up. "Ah, that reminds me… Amelia is returning to Britain just after Christmas, and I plan to approach her as soon as she returns. I already have Severus' memories, and I have convinced him to speak to her should she need further proof."

"That's great," Ron smiled. "Do you need me for anything?"

"If all else fails, then I will let you know," Dumbledore replied. "I don't want your… power… to become public knowledge, but if there is no other way of convincing Amelia to join us, then perhaps knowledge of what's at stake will change her mind."

"Let me know if you need me to speak to her," Ron said as he made his way over to the fireplace. "Oh, and Merry Christmas, Headmaster. I probably won't see you tomorrow, so I hope you have a pleasant day."

"Same to you, dear boy," Dumbledore said, though he didn't sound very festive. He's probably reeling from what I just told him. I know that he doesn't see assassination as a viable strategy, but honestly, what else can be done about that woman?

"The Burrow," Ron called as he threw the floo-powder into the flames, and when they blazed green, Ron stepped through them.

"You snuck out of the house, Ronald? After what just happened today, you're still sneaking off in secret?" Molly demanded just as Ron stepped into the Burrow, she was waiting by the fireplace. Uh-oh. Caught in the act with my pants down. It's over.

"Um…" Ron quickly tried to think of a valid reason, and his eyes darted down to the papers in his left hand. "I just had to take care of some important business…"

"What sort of business?" Sirius asked from the armchair. "What are those papers, kid?"

"Permits," Ron replied, and his mother narrowed her eyes. "Permits for the other children, that is. You know how I'm allowed to use Magic outside of school? Well, with these, they can as well." Say something touching. Quickly, now! "I didn't get anyone anything for Christmas, so these permits are my present."

"Oh," Molly's eyes slowly returned to normal, and Ron fought the urge to pump his fist. I'm a genius.

"How did you manage to get these?" James asked, and Ron shot a look towards the corner. Merlin, they're all here. Think fast.

"I challenged the Headmaster to a game of Chess, and his help on this was my reward for winning," Ron lied, and the adults looked rather intrigued. The hole gets deeper.

"You two must be quite close," Pandora said, her sharp gaze fixed on Ron. "You certainly interact a lot." She knows! Abandon ship!

"He's a decent bloke," Ron tried to be casual. "He's nice to everyone, not just me." Yes, nothing suspicious is at hand.

"Does Harry get one of those?" Sirius asked, an intrigued look on his face. Does he? I didn't check the papers yet. Wait… It's Harry Potter. Of course Dumbledore got him one.

"Yes," Ron replied, and Sirius' lips twitched upwards. "Don't tell him, though. It's meant to be a surprise." I need to go through these myself first.

"Good on you, Ron," Sirius gave an approving nod. "I'm glad that you two are trying to find common ground again."

"Yes… Good on you, Ron…" Pandora whispered, her eyes fixed on him. Good Lord, she knows that I'm a vindictive bastard.

"You know me…" Ron chuckled nervously; her gaze still unnerved him sometimes. Change the topic. "Just trying to keep things civil… Are the others still away? I don't want them seeing these just yet."

"They'll be back any minute now," Molly said.

"Then I should go upstairs and hide these, eh?" Ron said, and then he quickly made his way out of the Kitchen.

As he neared the stairs, he overheard the adults talking about him. What's Pandora saying? Ron quickly put his ear to the wall, a concentrated look on his face.

"You know, Molly, I don't wish to be rude, but your youngest son is really quite the bizarre fellow," Susana was saying. "I thought Tracey was over exaggerating some of the stories about him, but seeing him go about his business is really quite the spectacle." Well, I'm glad you think so.

"If anything, Tracey was selling him short," James added.

"He's… unique…" Molly said slowly. "Honestly, I don't know how his brain works. He's just… all over the place. Do you get what I mean?" Not at all. What do you mean by 'all over the place'?

"He's got his fingers in too many pies?" Sirius asked, and Molly let out a sigh.

"Maybe one day I'll figure him out," Molly said wistfully. Unlikely.

"Do you really think Dumbledore helped him with those permits?" Xeno asked.

"We can ask him," Pandora suggested. Go right ahead. Who do you think came up with this lie? "I must admit, I don't fully believe his story. When did he beat Dumbledore in a game of Chess? He's been dealing with the French for the entirety of the Break, and now he's telling us that he took some time off to defeat the Headmaster in a game of Chess? It just doesn't fit." Pandora, please stop…

"When we see Dumbledore again, we'll ask him," Sirius said, and Ron decided to warn the old man before he was questioned. I should go before one of them catches me.

Ron quietly made his way up to the first floor, he was starting to lose track of his infinite lies. The adults don't fully trust me anymore, and I can't really blame them. My lies just keep stacking up, and one of these days, it's all going to come crashing down on me. Ron knew that in a few days, the adults were going to reveal the truth about the Order to the children, which included Ron himself. I'll need to act a little surprised, but not enough to seem out of character. I have, after all, warned my friends that a war is coming, and I need to convince them that I figured it out because of my 'great intellect' instead of being warned by an Old God.

Ron suddenly felt his stomach tighten painfully, which caused him to lean against the wall for support. Fucking hell! What was that? Why is my stomach being such a prick lately? Is it my diet? Ron rubbed his stomach and groaned; the dull ache was refusing to leave. Maybe it's a massive shit? The only problem with that theory is that my stomach has never hurt like this before. Ron tried to stand up straight, but a knot in his stomach stopped him from doing so. Fuck, that really hurts. Ron released a shaky breath, and then he began limping towards his room. I just need to sit down.

The rest of the trip was quite unpleasant, and when Ron finally entered his room, he saw that Daphne had once again cocooned herself in his blanket. Does she always sleep like this? Ron's eyes drifted to his trunk, and he quietly limped over to it. Crouching down nearly made him scream, but he managed to stash the permits in his trunk without making a sound. Alright… Now I just need to stand back up… Ron grit his teeth, but try as he might, the pain in his stomach was too much to bear. Something's very wrong here… I need to tell the adults right now.

Ron tried to make his way out of the room, but his pain caused him to trip over his own feet. He landed on his face with a dull thud, but because of the burning pain in his stomach, Ron barely felt the impact. He felt extremely lightheaded, and for a little while, he felt as if he was slipping in and out of consciousness. Eventually, Ron realized that he had vomited, and that he was lying in a puddle of his own sick. I can't feel anything… Help me… It fucking reeks…

"Daphne…" Ron croaked, but there was no response. "Daphne… Help…"

His mind felt lethargic, and his eyes slowly rolled into the back of his skull. It hurts…

---

Theodore Nott's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (Near the Burrow – Late Evening)

"You're being unfriendly, Theo," Tracey said, and Theo let out a groan.

"What do you want from me, Trace?" Theo asked. "I don't even like him that much…"

"Ron and I are the only ones who are treating him like a human being at this point," Tracey whispered, her eyes darting towards Malfoy's back. "No one spoke to him all day."

"Then you talk to him," Theo said rather petulantly. "Why does it have to be me?"

"Because it's the right thing to do?" Tracey huffed. Ugh, the moral high ground… Must be nice up there. "Also, I tried speaking to him, but he's not exactly comfortable with me chatting him up."

"Chatting him up?" Theo's ears perked up.

"Not that way," Tracey rolled her eyes. "I'm a girl, Theo, and he's not very comfortable around me given our history. He thinks that I'm pitying him."

"But you are pitying him…" Theo said slowly.

"Well… That's not really the point…" Tracey blinked, and then she frowned deeply. "Don't confuse me, Theo." Huh?

"Okay…" Theo decided to stop talking. I don't want her being upset with me. I'm having too much fun around her to risk that.

"Just say something to him," Tracey sighed out. "Look at him… He's walking alone, and he looks miserable." He looks dethatched… Where is she getting the miserable vibe?

"What am I supposed to say?" Theo asked. "We haven't exactly spoken for a while now. I only put up with him because of Ron's bleeding heart." Seriously, Ron needs to stop helping every single person who has a sob story. He's just ruining his own health at this point.

"Talk about the village," Tracey suggested. "You two were staring at people quite intently."

"I was just curious," Theo shrugged. "Never been to a Muggle village before."

"Neither has he," Tracey smirked. "There's your topic. You two can exchange notes, as it were."

"Fine…" Theo decided to do as he was told. "You'd better appreciate this, Trace…"

"Oh, I do," Tracey beamed, and Theo felt a little better. Maybe I can get something worthwhile out of this.

Theo ran his hands through his hair, and then he sped up a little in order to catch up to Malfoy. Look at him… He looks extremely bored, and rather uninviting.

"So…" Theo said, and Malfoy shot him a quick look. "What did you think of the village?"

"You're speaking to me?" Malfoy looked around, and Theo frowned a little.

"No, I'm speaking to your shadow," Theo said sarcastically. "Of course I'm speaking to you, Malfoy."

"Why?" Malfoy looked suspicious already. Because I have a crush on a crazy bint, and this is my piss-poor effort at impressing her.

"I've never been to a Muggle-only village before," Theo said smoothly. "And I know that you haven't been to one either. I thought we could exchange our thoughts about it."

"Right…" Malfoy shot a look back at Tracey, who was just listening to her Walkman. "Did Davis put you up to this? She did, didn't she?"

"Why are you so anti-social?" Theo asked, and Malfoy looked back ahead. "Do you enjoy not speaking to others?"

"I don't enjoy being pitied," Malfoy drawled. "Tell Davis that I don't need her 'help'. I'm doing just fine on my own."

Theo thought about taking Malfoy's offer, it would certainly save him from this dull conversation, but he also knew that Tracey wouldn't be too pleased with his lack of real effort. Theo, when did you become like this? What went wrong? Who hurt you?

"You know… If I had people going out of their way to help me, I'd at least show an ounce of gratitude," Theo said coldly. "I might be a covetous little bastard, but at least I'm not a stubborn moron. Tracey is really trying to help you fit into our group, but you are treating her like shit for no reason other than misguided pride. Do you really want her to stop?"

Malfoy said nothing, and Theo shook his head at his former friend. He was always the most arrogant of pricks. Even now, he acts like he's better than everyone else. Ron really needs to cut this bastard loose.

"The village was boring," Malfoy said. "There was nothing interesting there, and I would have preferred to stay at the 'Burrow'."

"That's better," Theo relaxed a little. "I personally found the village quite fascinating."

"What?" Malfoy grimaced, and Theo shrugged without a care.

"I've never been so close to the Muggles before," Theo said. "You know… Watching them go about their day, I couldn't help but think that they're not so different from us."

"Are… Have you gone insane?" Malfoy whispered, he didn't look too happy with Theo's opinion.

"What?" Theo asked. "They were all celebrating Christmas, they were all laughing and putting up decorations, and they were all shopping with fervor. The only difference I could pinpoint was the lack of Magic."

"Exactly," Malfoy said. "There was no Magic whatsoever. We, the Magical, have no reason being in such a place. It's unnatural."

"I'm sure if you brandished your wand, and started casting Spells, they'd label you as the unnatural one," Theo stated. "Actually, some people were staring at us because of our clothes. Maybe we should've dressed more like Granger and Tracey?"

"Merlin, you sound just like him," Malfoy said in disbelief.

"Who? Ron?" Theo asked, and Malfoy looked back ahead. "Is that so wrong?"

"What's the matter with you?" Malfoy asked, shooting a look of disbelief at Theo. "What would your father say if he heard you right now?"

Theo's stomach tightened a little, he already knew what his father would say. He'd be utterly disgusted with me, even though I can't help but think this way; I'm not like him. Sure, I hate what happened to mother, but those were the actions of one man. Spending so much time with Ron, and Tracey, has helped me look past some of my anger. I'm more interested in understanding Muggles rather than hunting them down. I think we could learn a thing, or two, from them. Especially when it comes to music.

Theo knew his father quite well, and he also knew of the man's past. He understood that his father had killed many people in the name of the Dark Lord, and although he'd always corroborate his father's story, Theo knew that Cornelius Nott was never under the Imperius Curse. Nor was mother… I still don't understand why she would serve under a man like the Dark Lord. She was a good person, one who even valued the lives of Elves. Maybe I've just painted her as perfect in my head because of what happened to her… Maybe I was too young to fully understand her as a person. I mean, I was so young when she died. The truth is, I don't even remember that much about her. I just miss her every day.

"Are you there?" Malfoy waved in his face, and Theo broke out of his thoughts. "Well? What would your father say?"

"He'd be angry," Theo replied. "But you know what? I'm not a parrot, and I have the right to form my own opinions. Maybe you ought to try the same. You'd definitely be less miserable." We both know that you'll never be Lucius Malfoy, no matter how hard you try. "The Weasleys are a happy lot, more so than us, and it might be because they don't live to put others down." They don't live with contempt in their hearts.

"How are they a happy lot?" Malfoy asked coldly.

"Have you seen them?" Theo asked. "Sure, they all argue often, but they also spend a lot of time together. It makes me wish that I had a sibling growing up."

"You've clearly lost your mind," Malfoy said. "We weren't raised to be this way."

"I don't know about you, but my father didn't really raise me," Theo said calmly. "I spent most of my time in my Gardens, while he drank himself into a stupor everyday. I'm not wrong to have my own thoughts, Malfoy." Don't get defensive, Theo. You'll end up saying something stupid.

"Are you two alright?" Tracey asked, and they both looked back.

Tracey was staring at Theo with a furrowed brow, and Theo figured that she had noticed him getting defensive about something.

"We're fine," both boys said together.

"No arguments here," Theo added quickly.

"Smooth," Malfoy rolled his eyes. I'm going to punch him in the throat. "We're almost at the Burrow, so please, feel free to leave me alone."

"And he goes back to being a prick," Theo gave the blonde wizard a deadpan look.

"Theo…" Tracey whispered with a frown. What? He's being a tosser, while I'm trying to talk to him for your sake. I'm not the bad guy here! Please don't frown at me!

---

Sebastian Greengrass' POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Late Evening)

"You took away her work, Sebastian!" Mary said for the fifth time, they had been arguing for nearly an hour. "You told her to do nothing while you took care of everything because your name commands more respect! How do you think that made her feel?!"

"I stated a fact," Sebastian argued. "A goddamn fact! My name does command more respect, and if she had listened, none of this would have happened!"

"None of what would've happened?!" Mary fired back. "If you care so much about her business plans, shouldn't you be glad that she managed to solve her problems on her own? Isn't that what we raised her to do?!"

"We didn't raise her to run off to another country without a word!" Sebastian snapped. "A million things could've gone wrong, Mary! We both know what's out there! Who's out there! What if they had been attacked?! What if they were abducted for ransom?!"

"Ron already explained that she was with other people," Mary rubbed her forehead. "He didn't leave her in the fucking street, Sebastian. Now, I'm not happy with those two at the moment, but you were taking things too far. Threatening to strike your daughter in front of others does not become you."

"I am her father, and she will not defy me so openly," Sebastian said. "It is not our way."

"I understand the need for discipline, but you were being unreasonable," Mary refused to listen.

"Unreasonable?" Sebastian couldn't believe this. "No place is safe… Why can't you understand that? I thought you were all safe during the last war. Remember?" Mary's expression weakened at that. "I left you in a guarded manor, remember? Have you forgotten that nowhere is safe from the Dark Lord? He's already made an attempt on Ronald's life, and because of his status, Daphne too is in danger." I had to bury my mother because I was careless, I won't bury my daughter as well.

"So she shouldn't associate with him?" Mary asked, and Sebastian felt his forehead ache.

"No… I… That was said in anger…" Sebastian rubbed his face.

"She thinks that you meant it," Mary said. "Hell, I thought you meant it. In your state, it was impossible to know what you really wanted, or didn't want. You were just yelling. And… And what you said to Ron… That was unfair. He isn't to blame for this, not really. Daphne chose to go, but you put the whole thing on Ron. You made it sound like he dragged her away against her will. That he's 'influencing' her against you. Do you have any idea how insane you sounded? This is Ron! He's pretty much your son at this point!"

Sebastian couldn't lie to himself; his clash with his Apprentice was weighing heavily on his conscience. I shouldn't have told him that he's fired… He doesn't need that kind of stress. He has to know that I was just upset. I'd never cut ties with that boy. Not even if he left his Chess career behind.

"He… He is sick, and he could've had an emergency in France," Sebastian felt his anger ebb a little. "What then? What would Daphne do if he needed medical attention? Those two… They didn't even think before running off. That's what really angers me. How could they be so stupid?"

"They're children," Mary lowered her own voice. "Sebastian… They might act older than they are, but we can't forget that they're both very young. We've all done foolish things in the past, haven't we?"

"Not this foolish," Sebastian shook his head. "Not this… dangerous…"

"They don't know about the danger looming over us," Mary said calmingly. "We haven't told them yet."

Sebastian sat down on the sofa behind him, his face buried in his hands. I need to think. I need to calm myself down. Mary slowly took a seat to his left, and before long, she had her hand on his back.

"If anything had happened to them… Either of them…" Sebastian started; he had never learned to face his emotions. "I'd have lost my will to live…"

"I know, love," Mary whispered. "I know."

"And Tori… If something had happened to Daphne, the trauma of losing her sister would have reawakened her Curse," Sebastian felt exhausted and fearful. "You remember what the Healer told us? If her Curse reawakens, it'll kill her before she's thirty… She's already so frail, so small…" And she never eats properly, no matter how many times I beg her to.

"That won't happen," Mary tensed, and Sebastian took her free hand in his. "Love, we'll protect them both."

"I can't lose my daughters… I just can't…" Sebastian swallowed thickly. "And I can't lose Ron… I haven't really told him this, but I do love him… Very dearly…"

"He knows you do," Mary rested her head on his shoulder.

They just sat there for a bit, both of them too tired to keep arguing. Sebastian found himself regretting how harsh his reaction had been, but at the same time, he was still angry with Ron and Daphne. It was a paternal sort of anger; the kind one could only feel when their child's safety was put at risk. As clever as Ron and Daphne were, they hadn't witnessed the dangers of this World. So Sebastian didn't care that Ron had taken precautions, all he cared about was the fact that they had both put themselves in grave danger. Maybe I should've told Daphne about the Dark Lord's return as soon as she came home from Hogwarts? She would have been more careful if I had trusted her more.

"I want you to speak with Daphne before Christmas, Sebastian," Mary broke her silence. "I know you, and I know that you'll choose to stay silent rather than apologize."

"I'll speak to her-" Sebastian started, but the door to his Living Room was smashed open before he could finish.

Sebastian was immediately on his feet, his wand aimed at the intruder.

"Sirius?!" Mary shot up to her feet, while Sirius bent forward in order to catch his breath.

"The kid…" Sirius wheezed, there was a chunky red mess on the side of his robes. "Something's wrong… Daphne found him on the floor…"

"What?" Sebastian blinked, his wand arm dropping to his side. "Speak properly. What's happened?"

"There was blood," Sirius looked up, his was red and panicked. "There was so much blood… You need to come with me!"

And just like that, Sirius turned around and bolted towards the Greeting Room. Sebastian found himself chasing after the man within a heartbeat, whatever composure he had managed to regain was now shattered to pieces. The words 'Blood', 'Kid', and 'Daphne' rang through his head like loud bells, and panic began to seep into his mind.

"Sirius! Wait!" Sebastian called, but the man refused to slow down. "Tell us what's happened!"

Sirius came to an abrupt halt in front of the nearest fireplace, his jittery hands grabbing a pinch of floo powder and tossing it into the fire.

"The Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts," Sirius said shakily, and when the fire blazed to life, Sirius ran through it. Damn it!

"Mary, I'm going on ahead!" Sebastian called before following after Sirius.

The moment he entered the Headmaster's Office, he found himself staring at his friends and allies. Molly, Pandora, Xenophilius, Susana, and Sirius were speaking to each other, and from what Sebastian could make out, they were all equally rattled.

"You're here," Susana looked visibly relieved at seeing him. "Where's Mary?"

"What's happened?" Sebastian demanded just as Mary ran through the floo from behind him.

"Where's Daphne?!" Mary looked even more hysterical than Sebastian. "Where's my daughter?!"

"She's in the Hospital Wing," Pandora croaked, her face lined with tear-tracks. "She found him, and she wouldn't calm down… Poppy gave her a Calming Draught, and she passed out from shock… Oh, Merlin…" Shock?!

Sebastian felt his knees wobble, and he nearly joined his daughter in the dream world. He had heard enough to figure out that something terrible had happened to Ron, and that Daphne had been the one who found him. Gather the facts, Sebastian. Don't just stand there.

"What's happened?" Sebastian asked once again, his throat tightening. "Tell me."

"We don't know," Sirius looked close to tears himself. "We heard Daphne screaming, and when we got up to Ron's room, he was lying in a puddle of vomit and blood… Daphne was trying to wake him up, but he was as pale as a corpse…"

Mary nearly fell backwards at that, but Sebastian managed to catch her just in time.

"They're performing surgery on him right now…" Xeno spoke to the ground, his hands holding his head. He's got the same mess on his clothes as Sirius…

"Who? What surgery?" Sebastian pressed. Just tell me!

"Poppy, and the Heads of Houses," Susana stepped forward, while Sirius put his arm around a weeping Molly. "Poppy mentioned something about a stress ulcer in his digestive system."

"A stress ulcer…" Sebastian heard himself mutter.

"It caused internal bleeding, which resulted in him vomiting blood," Susana paled a little; she didn't know the boy all that well, but seeing such a sight had still terrified her. "Poppy didn't tell us anything else because she needed to perform a minor surgery on him. The Headmaster told us to wait here while he assisted with the operation."

"Where's James?" Sebastian looked around.

"He went to fetch Arthur at the Ministry," Susana replied.

"And the other children?" Mary asked right after.

"They still haven't returned from their trip," Susana sounded a little relieved. Her daughter is very close with Ron, and seeing something like that would no doubt land her in the Hospital Wing as well.

"I want to see my daughter," Sebastian headed for the door.

"You can't," Sirius quickly moved into his way. "She's in the Hospital Wing, and Pomfrey's sealed that place shut. You can't disturb them, Seb. Just let them fix the kid, please."

"Fix the kid?" Sebastian asked, his voice too shaky for his liking. "How? What does this operation entail?"

"She… didn't really tell us…" Sirius' face dropped. "She said that it wouldn't take long… She just needs to heal the ulcer, but she can't do that without opening him up. For fuck's sake, I don't think that they even have the tools needed for this sort of work…"

The fireplace roared to life, and both Arthur and James came running through it.

"Where is he?!" Arthur bellowed, a terrified look on his face. "Where's my boy?!"

---

Draco Malfoy's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Burrow – Late Evening)

The others piled into the Kitchen, all of them talking loudly about the fun day they'd had. Granger was at the center of the Gryffindor praise giving parade, and she had a smug look on her face that really irked Draco. He had wanted to stay at the Burrow in order to complete his self-appointed schoolwork, a distraction that had started becoming a hobby of his, but when Granger had started running her mouth about the nearby town, Draco had been forced to spend his day with a bunch of Gryffindors.

It didn't matter to the adults that everyone was ignoring him, or that he had his own plans for the day. No… He had been shipped off to a Muggle infested shithole for the entire day, and the only conversation that he had had was with a delusional Theodore Nott. He has no idea how much Weasley has influenced him. This what Weasley does, right? He gets into your head with his ideas, and before long, you're dancing to his tune without even realizing it. I know this because he's trying the same thing with me. And sometimes, I think he gets through. Merlin, I wish I were with Godfather right now.

"Bill!" Charlie beamed as the eldest Weasley sibling stepped into the Kitchen from the Living Room. "You missed out on quite the day!"

"Are the parents in the Living Room?" Domitor asked, while the other children settled into their own conversations. I'll just head up to Weasley's room. All my books are up there, and it should be quiet to boot.

"No," Bill replied as Draco made his way over to the stairs. "I thought they were with you lot. They're not around the Burrow. I checked."

"Weird," Charlie said, his eyes darting towards Draco without the boy's knowledge.

Draco didn't waste any time heading up the stairs, the voices of the other residents slowly fading out of earshot. Finally, some peace and quiet. I'll just pick up where I left off, and finish writing up my notes on the moons of Saturn. The trip up was tedious, as always, and Draco found himself wondering why the Weasleys didn't expand the house horizontally. Instead of being logical, they keep adding floors. A rather pungent smell broke him out of his thoughts, and Draco stopped walking immediately. Ugh… What is that? It smells like… vomit?

Draco looked back and forth, his eyes examining the fourth floor. It's coming from upstairs? Don't tell me that the Ghoul got out. Draco thought about running back downstairs, he didn't want to face a Ghoul on his own. Do Ghouls smell like vomit, though? Slowly, as if in a trance, Draco made his way up the stairs leading to the fifth floor. The closer he got to Weasley's room, the worse the stench became. Merlin… That's really starting to turn my stomach.

And then, Draco found himself standing in the doorway of Weasley's bedroom. What. The. Fuck. Is. That? Draco just stared at the chunky, dark red mess on the floor, his left hand covering his mouth and nose. Honestly, the mess looked like processed mincemeat, and if it weren't for the fact that he hadn't eaten much today, Draco would have lost the contents of his own stomach. At the edges of the mess, Draco could see blood, and he figured that whatever this mess was, it was only dark red because there was a lot of blood mixed into it. BLOOD?!

Panic shot through him, and Draco stepped back so quickly that his back slammed against the wall behind him. What happened here?! Where are the Weasleys?! Draco all but bolted towards the stairs; he needed to warn the others. Just as he stumbled into the fourth floor, he spotted Charlie Weasley walking towards him.

"There you are," Charlie said. "I was just wondering if you were-"

The muscular Weasley stopped talking when he saw the fear on Draco's face, and within a second, he had his wand out.

"There's blood up there!" Draco ran behind the bigger wizard. "Can't you smell it?!"

"Go get Bill right now," Charlie Weasley said, and then he bolted upstairs without another word. Why would you go up there alone?!

Draco decided to keep running downstairs, he didn't want to be anywhere near the fifth floor. By the time he made it to the second floor, the twins and Percy were making their way up. They too came to abrupt halts at the sight of him, and he didn't even bother listening to them as he ran down the next set of stairs.

"What's wrong?!" came Percy's voice as Draco made it to the first floor.

"Oi!" one of the twins called, but Draco ignored them all. Find the eldest Weasley, and then stay with the others for safety.

Draco burst into the Living Room, and all conversation stopped as he looked around maniacally. There he is! Draco made a beeline for the eldest Weasley sibling, who quickly pulled him aside with the help of Domitor.

"What's wrong?" Bill asked with a furrowed brow, while Domitor shot a quick look at the others.

"There's blood…" Draco panted, and Bill went dead still. "In Weasley's room… There's a huge mess… Charlie went up there alone, and he told me to go get you…"

"Kirsten, stay with the others," Bill bolted out of the room, which genuinely spooked everyone else.

"What's going on?" Potter asked with a furrowed brow.

And then, the Idiot-Who-Lived tried to follow after the eldest Weasley sibling. Domitor quickly cut him off, her wand brandished. Potter stopped rather quickly, his surprised eyes fixed on her wand.

"Everyone, stay in this room," Domitor ordered, and then she looked around. "Where are Theo and Tracey?"

"Outside," Granger answered quickly, a worried look on her face. "In the garden, I think."

"No one leaves this room," Domitor said firmly, and then, just like Bill, she was gone.

"Malfoy, what's going on?" Potter looked to the shrinking Malfoy heir. Why are we staying here?! We need to leave! "Malfoy?! Say something!"

"Harry, stay calm," Granger said, though she didn't look too calm herself. "Malfoy, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Did the Ghoul escape?" Greengrass asked. "Is that why everyone's in such a panic?"

"Ghouls aren't violent by nature, but if provoked, they tend to bite," Lovegood stated without a care.

"No Ghoul escaped," Draco bit out. What the fuck are they on about?!

"Then why are you so-" Longbottom started, but he stopped when he saw Domitor lead Theo and Davis into the room.

"All of you need to stay in here, understand?" Domitor looked ready for a fight. "Stay away from the windows as well. Now!"

Greengrass and Lovegood, who were both standing by a window, quickly jumped away from it. Theo and Davis instinctively waited near Draco, both of them looked rather spooked by Domitor's behavior. The older ones will protect us, right?

"What's going on?" Potter asked again, this time he sounded rather frustrated. "Are we under attack?"

"Under attack?" Greengrass looked rather taken aback. "Who would attack the Burrow?"

"Lord Voldemort," Potter replied rather brazenly, and over half the people in the room cringed. He said the fucking name?! And he did it so casually!

"None of that," came Bill's voice, and everyone looked to see him enter the room with his brothers in tow.

The twins looked quite out of sorts, while Percy was somehow maintaining his composure. As for Bill and Charlie, they also looked ready for a fight.

"There's no property damage, so we aren't under attack," Charlie explained, and Draco felt fresh air enter his lungs. I need to calm down…

"But there's blood in Ron's room," one of the twins said, while the other one looked extremely troubled.

"Blood in Ron's room?!" the youngest Weasley gaped, and even Lovegood seemed to wake up at last.

"It's horrible…" the other twin muttered.

"Charlie… Kirsten… You keep an eye on everyone, while I go and find the parents," Bill said, and Charlie and Domitor nodded their agreement. "All of you! You will listen to Charlie and Kirsten, and you'll do exactly as they say! I'll be back as soon as I find some answers!"

"You can't leave," Ginevra said. "Something's wrong, and we should all stay together." I am in agreement with her. Let's not split up.

"I'll be back soon, I promise," Bill's voice became much softer. "Just… Just listen to Charlie and Kirsten, alright? Do everything they say, no questions asked."

---

Albus Dumbledore's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Hospital Wing – Nearly Night)

As Albus watched Poppy and the Heads of Houses dress Ronald in a hospital gown, he found himself pondering about the unexpected nature of life. Just a few hours ago, Ronald had been sitting with Albus in his Office. The boy looked healthy, and in no danger whatsoever, but here they were… One of these days, he's not going to make it. One of these days, I might be forced to attend this young man's funeral.

Albus quickly banished such a thought, he didn't even want to think about it. He, of course, had tried to think of reasons for Ronald's failing health. Stress was a major contributor, but unlike most, Albus understood that Ronald's stress was not completely self-inflicted. The boy was a piece in a Cosmic game between the Higher Beings, and even thinking about this gave Albus himself quite a lot of stress. Why do they not help him? Why does 'Fate' choose to ignore his health? It makes no sense to me, and I can no longer find solace in the fact that they don't think like us. I wish to understand them, and perhaps one day, speak to them on Ronald's behalf. They could ensure that he survives the war.

"Albus?" Minerva called again, and Albus was brought back to reality.

"Forgive me, Minerva, I am distracted," Albus looked away from Ronald. So much blood.

"Poppy says that there is no more danger besides infection," Minerva said, she was slightly rattled due to seeing one of her students cut open. "With the right Potions, Mr. Weasley should make a speedy recovery."

"Good," Albus sighed out; he was genuinely exhausted. "This news will ease his Family's worries."

"Albus… Perhaps he should be pulled from school," Minerva whispered, and Albus waited for her to go on. "A stress ulcer… He's thirteen, so why is he a victim of such an issue? He is clearly ill, and keeping him at Hogwarts isn't right. He needs to be taken care of, and we professors aren't equipped to do that."

"I don't think Ronald would agree," Albus said. "And if we force him out of these walls, he'll only get worse."

"Albus is right," came Poppy's voice. "Stress comes from feeling powerless, and if you cut him off from his friends, he'll only get worse." Poppy then walked over to Albus and Minerva. "I've healed the ulcer completely, and as bloody as the operation was, it was nothing major. Healing Magic makes physical injuries like this quite easy to deal with, and if we can get him to follow a strict diet, this shouldn't happen again."

"A strict diet?" Minerva asked. "Go on." She's scared for him even though she doesn't know him all that well. I have to make sure that she doesn't give Ronald's parents any ideas that end up harming Ronald in the long run. He'd never leave Hogwarts, especially with what he knows.

"For one, he can't eat heavy foods for the next few days," Poppy said. "Milk is also off the table as it increases acid production in the stomach. He should also stay away from spicy, salty, and hot foods. Plus, I want to try a more… aggressive… approach in the hopes of dealing with his stress."

"Aggressive how?" Filius asked as he walked over to them.

"A mixture of Potions that will keep him at peace," Poppy said, and Albus found himself disagreeing with this.

"He doesn't need more Potions," Albus said. "He already came close to becoming addicted to the Calming Draught, Poppy. Surely this is not a viable option."

"It's the only one I can see," Poppy said. "I have never dealt with a patient like this. He… He is not responding to his current treatment methods, and no matter what I try, nothing seems to work."

"Why is he not responding to his current treatment?" Minerva asked.

"I can't exactly tell you, not without his permission," Poppy replied. "Ronald is… a difficult person to work with. That's all I can say." He's stubborn beyond reason, you mean.

"What are we going to tell his parents?" Filius asked. "They're probably worried sick, Headmaster."

"Poppy, what can you say to them?" Albus asked.

"I can tell them about the operation's success, and that he is no longer in danger if he is careful," Poppy replied. "He should also be able to spend his Christmas at home, but only if he stays in bed. The ulcer is gone, and with the proper Potions, there is no chance of infection. His mental health is my only concern now. How he stressed himself so much so that he developed a stress ulcer is beyond me… I thought I was making progress with him, but clearly, he is far too skilled at hiding his true thoughts and feelings." You have no idea. Hold on… Why am I feeling proud of such a thing? This is not a good trait of his.

"He'll be spending the night here, won't he?" Pomona asked, she had already sat herself down by Ronald's side.

"Yes, he'll spend the night here," Poppy replied. "I want to keep an eye on him, just in case. If he shows no signs of being in danger, I will discharge him tomorrow morning."

"And what of Miss. Greengrass?" Pomona asked.

"If she wakes up before curfew, she should be fine to go home," Poppy said. "Though I doubt she'll want to." Yes, she and Ronald share a rather intense bond.

"Come, let's speak with the Weasleys," Albus began making his way towards the exit.

"I'll stay with him," Pomona volunteered. "Just in case."

"Thank you, Pomona," Poppy shot a grateful smile at the maternal witch. "I will return shortly, I promise."

"Do you need us to come with you, Albus?" Minerva followed after the man.

"No, you and Filius may return to watching over our students," Albus said, and then he looked at the bloodstains on her robes. "After you both change, of course."

"Oh…" Filius looked down at his messy robes. "My word… I feel faint…"

"It's only blood, Filius," Minerva said.

"My student's blood…" Filius didn't look comforted whatsoever.

Albus and Poppy made their way out of the Hospital Wing, and up the Moving Staircase in silence. Poppy was currently cleaning up her hands with the use of her wand, a slight frown on her face.

"Poppy? Is everything alright?" Albus asked.

"Just thinking about what to tell them," Poppy replied.

"The truth, I hope," Albus smiled at her.

"They will ask questions that I can't answer," Poppy sighed out. "I take my duties very seriously, and a patient like Ronald demands confidentiality."

"But his parents can be… inquisitive," Albus nodded to himself. "I have learned that Ronald and his parents are currently in the midst of turning over a new leaf. Perhaps you can use that your advantage?"

"I would rather state the facts," Poppy said. "I am Ronald's Mind-Healer, and not their insider to the boy's mind. I will tell them what they need to know, and nothing more." Blunt, but effective.

"Sugar Gum Drops," Albus said to the Stone Gargoyle, and it slid aside.

Poppy and Albus made their way up the spiral staircase, and as they neared the door, they heard multiple voices echo from inside the Office. Albus opened the door, and once Poppy had stepped inside, he shut the door behind them.

"They're back," Sirius got everyone's attention, and they all stood up with worried looks.

"Is… Is he alright?" Arthur pushed forward.

"The operation was a success, and he is currently in recovery," Poppy told them, and they all looked visibly relieved.

"Thank God," Susana said, while Pandora put her arm around Molly.

"What happened to him?" Bill asked, and Albus was quite surprised to see him here. If he's here, then who's looking after Harry? "I… I got here just a few minutes ago… I was looking for the adults."

"He had a stress ulcer in his upper digestive tract," Poppy explained. "It became agitated, and when it began bleeding, his stomach was filled with blood."

"And he ended up vomiting that blood out," Bill paled, while the others didn't look much better.

"His stomach has been cleaned up, the ulcer has been healed, and he is no longer in any danger," Poppy said. "But I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that he could still take a turn for the worse."

"How so?" Sebastian asked.

"He lost a lot of blood, and although I've given him a Blood-Replenishing Potion, his body temperature is quite low," Poppy replied. "I want to keep him for the night, and hopefully, by tomorrow morning, he'll have made a decent recovery."

"He can still spend Christmas at the Burrow?" Molly asked, a glimmer of hope in her glassy eyes. "Is that… safe?"

"It should be, but if I decide that he hasn't recovered enough, he will have to forego this year's Christmas," Poppy told them. "If I do decide to send him home, there will be strict rules that he must follow. Firstly, no exercise… I know that Ronald is quite attached to his regimen, but in his current state, he could hurt himself."

"No exercise," Arthur promised. "I'll make sure of it."

"Secondly, he can't eat solid foods," Poppy went on, and Molly looked quite taken aback. "Only soups, and other liquids, are allowed. We cleaned out his stomach, which means that he lost a lot of his stomach fluids in the process. So for at least a week, or so, he needs to stay away from heavy foods. Also, he is not allowed anything too spicy, salty, or hot."

"So nothing that can upset his stomach," Arthur seemed to be taking mental notes. I've never seen such a serious look on his face. "Anything else?"

"There is one more thing… but it is unorthodox," Poppy started, and Albus' ears perked up. What is she doing? "Since his health is very frail at the moment, I want to try a new blend of Potions on him. A colleague of mine recently recommended a sedating technique to me, and I believe that Ronald could benefit greatly from it."

"Sedating technique?" Mary shot a look towards Albus, who kept his expression calm and collected.

"Is it safe?" Arthur asked slowly.

"It has proven to be quite effective," Poppy replied.

"What is this technique?" Sirius asked.

"Ronald will be given a mixture of Potions when he wakes up," Poppy started. "This mixture consists of the Calming Draught, the Draught of Peace, Syrup of Hellebore, Infusion of Wormwood, and the Sleeping Draught."

"Sweet Circe…" Mary looked horrified. "He'll be as alive as a corpse on so many sedatives!" I agree. This is too much.

"The initial dose will be quite small, no more than a spoonful," Poppy said calmly. "It will make him quite dull, but the effects will weaken within the hour."

"Initial dose?" Pandora asked. "So you want us to keep giving him doses throughout the day?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Poppy replied. "Ronald will have to walk around with an IV pole, one which will have a hang bag full of the new blend hanging from it. A drip will be attached to Ronald, and throughout the day, he'll be dosed very slowly. Only a few drops every hour."

"Is it safe to have this blend running through his blood?" James asked. "Isn't Infusion of Wormwood used in the Draught of Living Death?" I do not agree with this new form of 'treatment'. Ronald needs his wits about him, and this new blend has addictive properties judging by the ingredients.

"The hourly dose is almost useless if ingested, but since it's being administered directly to his blood, it will keep him calm and sedated," Poppy said. "We'll only use this treatment until he recovers from the surgery. We can't risk him stressing himself out as always in his current condition. I must remind all of you that he is not out of the woods yet."

"Can… Can we have time to discuss this?" Arthur asked, his eyes darting to his wife.

"Of course," Poppy replied. "You can come with me if you wish to see him. Just make sure to be quiet."

"Bill, go back to the Burrow," Arthur said, and Bill gave a reluctant nod. "Tell the others that we'll be home soon, and that we'll talk to them about this."

"Alright, dad…" Bill sighed out. "Just think about what I said, please."

Bill left the Office via floo after that, a rather worried look on his face. Albus looked back to Arthur, who was looking right back at him.

"Dumbledore… Thank you," Arthur managed a weak smile.

"You should thank Poppy," Albus smiled at the man. "I merely offered a hand whenever I could."

"Of course…" Arthur realized that he hadn't thanked the Head Nurse yet. "Madam Pomfrey, we're all indebted to you for saving him once again. Thank you."

"I did what any Healer would do," Poppy said, she was never one for being congratulated. "Come, I will take you all to him."

"And Daphne is there as well?" Sebastian asked.

"She is, and if she wakes up before curfew, you may take her home," Poppy led the way out.

Albus decided not to follow the group, mostly because he wanted to change his robes. There are still a few students walking this castle, and I can't let them see me in my current state. Not to mention that I don't enjoy seeing Ronald in that bed. His illness reminds me too much of Ariana's.

---

Arthur Weasley's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Hospital Wing – Night)

Arthur had spent the last thirty minutes staring at his paler than usual son; his mind was fixed on Bill's words. It's over. We have to tell the others about Ron. They found the blood in his room, and we can't keep them in the dark anymore. At this point, they'll become angry and resentful if we keep lying to them.

Arthur decided to check up on Daphne once again, and hopefully, get some advice from Sebastian. Arthur walked over to Daphne's bed, which was opposite to Ron's, and he found Susana and Mary having a hushed conversation by Daphne's bedside table. Where's Sebastian?

"How is she?" Arthur asked, and both women stopped whispering abruptly. I definitely interrupted them.

"Poppy says that she'll be fine," Mary smiled weakly. "Though she'll be quite shaken by what she saw."

"I'm sorry," Arthur offered his condolences.

"There's no need for that," Mary said. "Susana and I were just saying that it's a good thing she was there. Daphne's a strong girl, and she'll push past seeing Ron in that state. If anything, she'll be glad that she managed to call for help in time."

Arthur looked to the sleeping blonde, and he found himself feeling rather grateful for her existence. Maybe Molly is right, and it's not such a bad thing that Ron and Daphne are attached at the hip. I'll be sure to thank her tomorrow.

"Did Sebastian go home?" Arthur asked, making sure to shoot a look back at Ron's bed. The others are by Ron's bed. Only Sebastian and James are missing. Did they leave together?

"He went to get Daphne some clean clothes," Susana told Arthur. "Just in case she does wake up before curfew."

"And James went with him?" Arthur asked.

"Arthur, are you alright?" Mary couldn't help but notice that Arthur was looking like a lost lamb.

"I was just hoping to speak to Sebastian," Arthur replied. "I needed some advice, that's all."

"Well, you can ask us," Susana smiled genuinely. "We might be able to offer you some clarity."

Arthur stared at them, and then, he decided to go for it. They're both more intelligent than me, so maybe they'll have an answer to my dilemma.

"My eldest, Bill, told me to come clean with the others," Arthur started. "Tonight, that is. They went into Ron's room, and they found his bloody vomit."

"Oh, no," Mary sighed out.

"They're asking questions, and at this point, we're just lying to them," Arthur said. "Ron's friends, and even Harry, Neville, and Hermione, know about Ron's illness… It's just his siblings who are in the dark now."

"Why hasn't he told them?" Susana asked.

"Ron's… complicated…" Arthur really didn't have an answer. "He doesn't want them to treat him differently, and I think deep down, he doesn't want to worry them. They've always been close, despite a lot of sibling rivalry. I know for a fact that they'll be devastated." Ginny and Luna definitely won't take this well.

"You have brilliant children, Arthur," Mary said, and Arthur perked up a little on instinct. "They know that something is wrong, and by now, they know that they're being kept in the dark about it. Perhaps Bill is right… Perhaps you should tell them before they find out from someone else."

"I want to… But Ron… You know how he is," Arthur said. "And then there's Christmas… I'd be telling my children that their brother is dying a day before Christmas…"

Both women looked rather sorry after hearing that, and Arthur hung his head. I've got no choice, have I? I have to do this, if not for Ron's benefit, then for the benefit of the others. They'll no longer be satisfied with deflections and lies. They need the truth. Arthur felt a hand rub his arm, and he looked to see Mary giving him a rather apologetic look.

"I think you should speak with Molly," Mary whispered. "She's definitely not going home tonight, so you two need to decide on what to do."

"You think I should tell them, don't you?" Arthur said, and Mary gave him a nod.

"As sick as Ron is, the others are also important," Mary replied. "They're probably agitated, maybe even terrified, and you have the power to put them at ease."

"By telling them that Ron is dying," Arthur sighed out. "Even I hate thinking about that, so Merlin knows how they'll take it." Arthur then rubbed his face. "Thank you… Both of you. I'll speak to Molly, and then, I'll go and speak to my children. Let me know when Daphne comes to, I want to thank her for saving him. Again."

"Good luck, Arthur," Susana smiled a sorry smile, and Arthur gave her a nod before making his way over to Ron's bed.

Molly was currently wiping Ron's brow with a wet towel for the hundredth time, while the others were speaking in hushed whispers. Pandora and Molly look terribly shaken by all of this. I hope seeing this doesn't influence Pandora's pregnancy negatively.

"Molly, can I speak to you?" Arthur asked, and she shot him a withered look.

"I don't want to leave him…" Molly went back to cleaning up Ron's forehead.

"Molly, please, this is very important," Arthur said, and Pandora took the wet towel from Molly's hand.

"Molly, you and Arthur need to discuss what happens next," Pandora whispered. "I'll stay with him, and when you come back, you can keep looking after him."

Molly gave a weak nod, and then she walked off towards the exit. Arthur followed after her, his eyes catching Xeno and Sirius giving him 'best of luck' looks. I'll need it. Just as Arthur stepped out into the Hallway, Molly quickly clung to his middle.

"Oh, Arthur…" she began weeping once again, and Arthur held her tightly. "What are we going to do? He's getting worse everyday…"

"I don't know," Arthur replied. "We just have to be there for him, that's all I know."

"I can't… I can't keep seeing him like this…" Molly sniffled, and Arthur squeezed her into his chest.

"I know how you feel," Arthur admitted. "I feel… helpless…"

"And Bill… He's right," Molly said. "What are we going to do? How are we going to tell the others about Ron?" Merlin, she's just as lost as I am.

Arthur decided to take full responsibility, mostly because he didn't like seeing his wife in such a state of panic and confusion. I'll speak to them myself. I'll take completely responsibility.

"I know that it's Christmas tomorrow, but at this point, it can't be helped," Arthur tried to sound strong. "I'll go and speak to them…"

Molly looked up at that, and Arthur wiped away her tears with his thumbs.

"You can stay here," Arthur tried to smile for her sake. "Watch over him."

"What are you going to tell them?" Molly squeaked.

"Everything," Arthur replied. "I'll tell them about his Brain-Damage, his Chronic Stress, and his current condition… I'll even tell them how this all happened… No more lies."

---

Twenty Minutes Later

"I'm ready now," Arthur breathed in deeply, he had been staring at Dumbledore's fireplace for nearly twenty minutes.

"Take as much time as you need, Arthur," Dumbledore said from behind his desk, he did not envy Arthur Weasley right now.

"Thank you once again, Dumbledore," Arthur shot the old wizard a weak smile. "I'll be off, then…" Godric, please give me courage.

Arthur prepared the floo, and once everything was set up, he stepped through the fireplace and into the Burrow. Just as he had predicted, his children were waiting for him with worried and agitated looks. The Slytherins aren't here? They're probably in Ron's room, which Bill promised to clean up.

"Where is Ron?!" Ginny demanded, she was definitely angrier than she was worried.

"Dad, tell us what's going on," Fred matched Ginny's anger. "Bill won't say a damn thing!"

Arthur shot Bill a quick look, and judging by his posture, the eldest Weasley child had taken the brunt of the anger already. I'm sorry, son.

"Was that Ron's blood?" Harry asked, his brow furrowed. "Is he alright?"

"He will be home tomorrow," Arthur replied as he decided to let them stay. My children will tell them everything, anyway. Plus, this way, they might decide to reach out to Ron and help him. "Bill, can you go fetch Ron's friends, please?" I know for a fact that they all know about his health problems. The fact that he told them, and not his siblings, won't go over well.

"Sure, dad," Bill left quite quickly, and Arthur felt rather guilty for turning Bill into the lightning rod.

"Do you know what happened to him?" Charlie asked. "Bill really didn't tell us a thing." He followed my instructions to the letter, then.

"Yes, we know what happened," Arthur pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Well?" George asked in a worried voice. "Aren't you going to tell us?"

"Just let the others come, and then, I'll tell you everything," Arthur promised. Steady, Arthur. You can do this.

The more he thought about his current situation, the harder it became to speak. How was he even supposed to start? It was no secret that Ron had some bad blood with his siblings, but that was the case for most siblings. Arthur himself often fought his brothers bitterly growing up. Despite how often they all fight, they're all much closer than I was with my own brothers. Still, if I learned that one of them was dying, I'd be devastated. I don't even want to think about how they'll take this.

Bill entered the room with Ron's friends in tow, all of whom looked quite composed considering what had happened. I don't know how Slytherins do it, but right now, I wish I had their ability to stay detached.

"Can you tell us now?" Percy asked impatiently, and the others shot him a quick look. "What? I've reached my limit… Just tell us, father. We can take it."

"Ron just had surgery," Arthur finally started, and silence engulfed the room. There goes the composure of the Slytherins… Maybe I should've started differently?

"Surgery…?" Ginny fell back onto the sofa. "What for…?"

"Don't interrupt him," Charlie clicked his tongue, his eyes fixed on Arthur. "Go on, dad." He's become impatient as well.

"He had a stress ulcer in his stomach, and it began bleeding," Arthur restarted. "Blood pooled into his stomach, and he vomited it out. Although that helped save him, it also put a lot of stress on his body. Sirius and Xeno took him to Madam Pomfrey, and she worked with the Professors to save Ron's life. He's stable now, and if everything goes well, he should be able to spend Christmas at the Burrow."

"What's a stress ulcer?" Neville asked timidly.

"I don't really know…" Arthur admitted. "Madam Pomfrey said that high stress levels can cause a change in a person's stomach acidity, which burns away the stomach lining… It wasn't a laymen's explanation. Whatever this ulcer was, it's been healed completely, but in order to do that, they had to operate on Ron."

"Why would Ron have so much stress?" Fred asked, and the people who know about Ron's Chronic Stress went dead silent.

"Your brother… Your brother is very sick," Arthur leaned forward, making sure to sound as soft as he could. "He suffers from a condition called Chronic Stress, which results in him constantly feeling overwhelmed."

"What?" George looked around the room in order to make sure that everyone else had heard Arthur. "He has some sort of stress sickness? Since when?"

"Since his second year," Arthur replied. "Do you remember how agitated he always was? Even angry beyond reason?"

"You mean when you and mum were trying to pull him out of Slytherin?" Percy asked, he sounded rather cold and vindictive.

"We… We didn't know how to handle his illness back then," Arthur swallowed thickly, while Charlie and Bill frowned at Percy. "Neither did he, actually. However, he's learned how to cope with feeling overwhelmed all the time."

"He's learned to cope?" Luna asked. "This is very confusing… And scary…"

"I know," Arthur said, while Astoria patted Luna's back. Astoria's known everything this entire time, and she's never once mentioned it. She's clearly Sebastian and Mary's daughter, even if she acts like the twins most of the time. "Ron has found ways to ignore his stress-"

"But he just had a stress ulcer," Fred said, his eyes kept darting towards the Slytherins. "Why don't you lot look surprised by all of this?"

"Fred-" Bill started.

"You lot already know about this, don't you?" Fred asked them, and they said nothing in response.

"Why are we only hearing about this now?" George asked, he sounded more upset than angry.

"Ron didn't want to tell you," Arthur replied. "He… He wanted to protect you from this."

"Protect us?" Fred asked. "We're not that fragile… If he has a stress giving illness, then we can help him."

"It's more than that," Arthur drew in a deep breath. "Do you all remember his coma?"

"It gets worse...?" Ginny's eyes widened.

"What happened to Ron at the end of his first year caused severe trauma to his body… And his brain," Arthur said. "The trauma to his body could be healed to a degree, but the damage done to his brain is permanent…" Just say it, Arthur. "Ron has Brain-Damage, and it's life-threatening…"

Shock and horror was the only description for what Arthur was seeing right now. Those who didn't know about the Brain-Damage, which was most of them, had gone deathly pale. I need to keep explaining… I'll lose the strength to talk if I keep staring at them.

"Ron's-" Arthur started.

"He's dying?" Luna whimpered, her bottom lip quivering. "He is, isn't he?"

"Yes…" Arthur felt his head spin. "Yes… He's dying… I'm sorry…"

"What do you mean by 'he's dying'?" George asked, his eyes fixed on his father. "Is… Is he terminally ill?"

"Ron's Brain-Damage is linked with his Chronic Stress," Arthur explained. "The more he stresses, the worse the Brain-Damage becomes. Madam Pomfrey… She um…" My throat…

"It's alright, dad," Bill walked up and rubbed his back.

"She said that he has a few years left at this rate…" Arthur pinched his eyes; he didn't have the strength to look at them. "What happened today… It proves that Ron could be gone very soon…"

"This is… This is not funny…" Fred sounded utterly lost. "That's a… That's a really fucking bad joke…"

"Fred…" George managed.

"No…" Fred shook his head as he let out a long breath. "Nope… That's not happening…"

"Wait… You've known about the Brain-Damage since his coma?" Percy muttered, and when Arthur didn't reply, his face contorted with rage. "Well?! Have you?!"

"Percy," Charlie sighed out.

"We found out after his run-in with the Veelas," Arthur told them. "That's when he was diagnosed…"

"So you've known all year long?!" Percy snapped. "And you didn't tell us?!"

Arthur hadn't expected this sort of anger from Percy, but when he thought about how close Percy was to Ron, it made a lot of sense. He's the only wizard of age in Ron's life who didn't know, and he's already figured that out.

"Did they know about this?" Ginny asked weakly, her watery eyes moving towards the Slytherins.

"We've been helping him since he was diagnosed," Theo finally spoke up. "Malfoy only learned recently."

"And I've told no one," Draco added.

"So he told a Malfoy before he told us?" Fred's shock turned into anger.

"How wretched do you all feel right now?" Theo asked them all. "I remember feeling quite wretched when I first found out. Maybe he didn't want his siblings to go through that? Trust me, he could've easily told you everything in order to get whatever he wanted out of you, but he constantly went through great pains to keep all of you in the dark. And it wasn't out of some malicious, vindictive grudge that you're probably thinking of right now. He just didn't want you all to suffer because of his illness."

"And we found out because we spend a lot of time with him," Tracey sniffled; she wasn't as good at handling her emotions as the Slytherin boys. "He lives with us for most of the year, doesn't he?"

"And them?" George looked to the Trio, who all averted their gazes. "Why haven't you three made a sound? Did you know about this?"

"This is not the time to fight and point fingers," Charlie said. "What matters is that everyone knows now, and we all have to put everything into protecting Ron."

"Charlie's right," Bill said. "Now, there is no cure for either of his conditions, but the happier he is, the slower the Brain-Damage spreads. Right, dad?" Huh?

Arthur realized that his brain had turned off due to thinking about Ron's condition so much. A terrible feeling of despair engulfed him again, and he felt his eyes sting.

"Yes…" Arthur said with a strained voice. "The less stressed he is, the longer he lives…"

"There's no cure whatsoever?" Fred asked quickly. "None at all? Not even the Muggles have a cure for this?"

"Brains aren't something that can be replaced," Arthur sighed out. "We're thinking of taking him to a Muggle Healer soon. Tracey's mother knows of a few accomplished ones, and she's setting up some appointments for Ron. Until he meets with them, we won't know for certain."

"This is not happening…" Ginny hunched over and hid her face between her legs, her fingers digging into her left forearm. "No…"

Kirsten quickly moved over and put her arm around Ginny's tiny figure, while Charlie sat down with Luna and Astoria.

"I'm… I'm so sorry…" Arthur stood up; he didn't want his children seeing him in tears. "I… I have to go to check on Ron…"

The twins, Percy, Theo, Tracey, and the trio stood up as well, they clearly planned to come with Arthur.

"You're all staying here," Arthur said.

"What?"

"Why?"

"We want to see him," Percy frowned deeply.

"He's resting, and the Hospital Wing isn't St. Mungo's…" Arthur rubbed his face. "I promise, you'll see him tomorrow."

"Like your word means anything at this point," Percy grit out before storming out of the room.

"I'll go speak with him, dad," Bill gave his father a sorry look, while Charlie and Kirsten tried their best to comfort the crying girls.

"Um… Daphne… Where is she?" Tracey piped up.

"She found him after he…" Arthur couldn't finish his sentence, but they all knew what he meant. "She went into shock and fainted… She's also at the Hospital Wing."

"Poor Daphne…" Tracey sniffled, and Theo put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'll be home soon," Arthur began preparing the floo. "Charlie… Kirsten… Can you please make sure that everyone eats tonight? There's food in the pantry…"

"Of course, dad," Charlie said, he was rubbing Luna's heaving back.

---

Percy Weasley's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Burrow – Night)

Percy slammed the door to his room behind him; his mind was on fire with a million different questions. Sometimes, Percy really hated how his mind worked. Unlike his siblings, Percy was a stickler for details, and this latest revelation truly needed to be nitpicked.

Firstly, the mere thought of Ron's conditions terrified Percy to no end. He had just found out about it, and it had taken less than a few seconds for his mask of calmness to completely break apart. Ron was dying! What was Percy supposed to do about that? What could he do? Why hadn't Ron told him? Percy could somewhat understand why Ron had chosen to leave the others in the dark, but he was genuinely hurt by the fact that Ron didn't trust him as well. And not only did being left in the dark hurt, it also made Percy feel extremely guilty. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was already blaming himself for not being a better brother. If he had been a better brother, then maybe Ron would've told him the truth.

And then there were the questions about Ron's recent actions… Why was Ron fighting so hard to become a part of the Ministry? What was the point? What Ron needed was rest, not countless problems. Why was Ron so adamant about fighting the Pure-Blood Families when he instead ought to be taking care of his failing health? None of it made sense, and for a person like Percy, there was nothing worse than this. I don't know him at all, do I? Not one bit. I thought I did, but obviously, I'm clueless about my 'favorite' brother.

The door to Percy's room opened slowly, but Percy ignored it in favor of pacing back and forth. Ron only has a few years left… Will he even graduate? Oh, Merlin… He could be dead by the end of next year, even. Oh, Merlin!

"Percy?" came Bill's voice, and Percy shot a scared look back.

"We have no way of knowing if Ron could be alive for next year's Christmas," Percy muttered, and Bill looked quite taken aback.

"Perce…" Bill whispered. "You can't think like that…"

"What else am I supposed to think about?!" Percy suddenly snapped. "I'm not like you, or father… I don't just put important matters on the back burner!"

"This has never been put on the back burner," Bill adorned a more serious look. "Dad, me, and everyone else who knows do everything we can to help Ron every day."

"And I didn't fit the bill to join this club?!" Percy demanded. "What?! I'm not responsible enough?! I'm not old enough?! What's the excuse for me not being involved in this?! I could have spent my year helping him get better, but instead, I've been living in the dark!"

"This was Ron's choice, Percy," Bill said, and Percy sneered at his older brother. "He has the right to keep his private life to himself."

"You don't believe that," Percy scoffed. "I know this Family, and I know that nothing is considered private here. Mother is always looking over other people's shoulders, while father simply does what's easy. You all lied and hid the truth because it was the easy thing to do!"

"Easy? You think this is easy for us?" Bill frowned a little. "I get that you're hurt, and scared, but you have no idea what you're talking about. Mum and dad have to make peace with burying one of their children, Percy… Think about that for a second."

Percy lost some of his steam at that, but it wasn't enough to calm him down.

"I should've been told," Percy swallowed thickly. "I could've helped him."

"I'm not saying that you couldn't have," Bill said. "But Ron didn't want to burden everyone with his illness. He's not stupid… He knows just how terribly we've all taken to this news, and he wanted to spare the rest of you from that pain. Hell, I didn't sleep for days on end when I first found out… So can you even imagine how Luna and Ginny are going to take this?"

Percy's shoulders sagged, and he felt his eyes sting terribly.

"This is… This is not fair…" Percy sank into his chair, his face buried in his hands. "This is not fair at all…"

"I know," Bill sighed out as he sat down on Percy's bed. "I'm sorry that you found out this way, brother… I really am."

"I kept hoping that the mess in Ron's room was just a failed Spell…" Percy mumbled through his hands. "But I think I already knew that something was wrong… There are rumors at school about Ron being sick, but I always ignore them…" I'm the one who took the easy way out, not mum and dad. "I can't believe this…"

Guilt once again bombarded Percy's rattled mind, and he barely managed to stop himself from crying.

"I bet you have questions," Bill said, and Percy pulled his hands away from his face. "I can't tell you everything because I myself don't have all the answers, but I can share what I know now. So… If you want, we can talk."

"The Dark Lord did this to him," Percy felt his blood turn cold. "At the end of his first year…" I always thought that the Dark Lord was gone for good, but clearly, the Ministry is wrong to spread that information around. Even after Ron's coma, a part of me didn't believe the Headmaster.

"Yes," Bill responded. "After what happened, none of us really knew that something was wrong. Ron's friends, however, started noticing that Ron was not acting like himself anymore. Daphne mentioned that Ron became increasingly irrational, and sometimes, even violent-"

"Violent? Towards her?" Percy was a little jarred to hear that.

"Not towards her, but towards those who got in his way," Bill replied, and Percy nodded slowly.

"Go on," Percy all but whispered. "Tell me everything… Please."

"From what I understand, his Brain-Damage and Chronic Stress cause his irrational behavior," Bill went on, and Percy cringed at the mention of Ron's illnesses. "Sometimes he's as happy as a well-fed Hippogriff, but the next minute, he's seething with rage. Before his diagnosis, Ron's friends realized that something was wrong with him. They did their best to keep him happy, but without any knowledge on what was truly bothering Ron, they could do very little."

"And after he was diagnosed?" Percy asked, making a mental note to thank Ron's friends. I've clearly misjudged them. I mean, I don't despise them like the others, but I never really liked them either.

"They've been looking out for him," Bill replied. "They make sure that he eats properly, drinks his Potions-"

"Potions?" Percy paled. It's that bad already? He needs Potions to function?

Percy suddenly remembered seeing Theodore Nott slip Ron something when Ginny had accused Ron of being a traitor. He must have given Ron some sort of Potion… That's why Ron started acting so differently right after. And… And Nott knew how to deal with Ron collapsing a few days ago. They really do watch out for him constantly… They do what I'm supposed to be doing.

"Percy, are you listening?" Bill asked, and Percy broke out of his thoughts.

"Sorry…"

"No, it's alright," Bill said gently. "Just take as much time as you need."

"What Potions is he on?" Percy asked as he turned his chair to face his desk. I'll write everything down, and then I'll start doing my own research. Yeah… That's what I should do. I can still help him. It's not too late.

Percy fumbled about as he grabbed everything in a hurry, and once he had everything in hand, he gestured Bill to start talking. Percy missed the sorry look on Bill's face.

"He has two Nutrition Potions a day," Bill started, and Percy quickly wrote it down. I can still help him… Once he's back, I'll do whatever it takes to help him stay alive.

---

Fred Weasley's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Burrow – Night)

Fred fiddled with the piece of coal that he was planning to give to Ron for Christmas, but now that he knew about Ron's conditions, the sight of that piece of coal pissed him off to no end.

George wasn't saying anything, which was a habit of his whenever he was distressed. Fred wanted to pull his twin out of his current state, but right now, he didn't have the energy to pull even himself out of his misery. A misguided part of him was still hoping that this was all an elaborate prank orchestrated by Ron himself. Any minute now, Ron would burst into their room with his smug smirk and take the piss out of them. The twins would be furious, and together, they'd scream at Ron for being a prick. But deep down, they'd both be filled with genuine relief. He knew that this scenario was never going to happen, but he still desperately wished that it would. He desperately wished that Ron wasn't terminally ill.

Fred continued playing with the piece of coal in his hands, which were now covered with black dirt, he honestly didn't know what to do. His mind felt heavy, and every time he thought about Ron, he felt the urge to sneak out to the Hospital Wing. Sure, he'd be turned down at the door, but maybe he could catch a glimpse of his little brother. Just enough to know that dad wasn't lying… Just enough to know that Ron will be home tomorrow.

George suddenly stood up, and Fred's head jerked up because of it.

"What is it?" Fred croaked. My throat is so dry…

"Harry, Neville, and Hermione…" George looked quite angry all of a sudden. "They knew about this, I just know it." He's still on about that? Who cares if they knew? We need to do something to help Ron.

"Why are you so certain about that?" Fred asked, hoping to distract himself.

"Didn't you see them?" George fumed, and Fred was quite taken aback. It's weird seeing him like this. I'm usually the 'emotional' one. "They were dead quiet the entire time, and they didn't look too surprised by any of this. Even Neville, who panics when a fly hovers too close to him, was dead quiet. They knew, Fred, and I have questions to ask them."

"What sort of questions?" Fred stood up as well. "George… You're scaring me. Calm down, please."

"Calm down?" George looked scandalized. "How can I fucking calm down right now?!"

"I… I didn't mean it like that…" Fred sighed out, his hands tightening around the piece of coal. "You just look really angry right now, while I'm struggling to even speak…" I hate admitting that I'm the lesser of us two, but right now, I don't even care…

George's expression softened a little at that, and he let out a shaky breath.

"I'm scared too, Fred…" George all but whispered. "I just… I can't sit around right now… I need to do something. I keep trying to think of a way to sneak out of here in order to see Ron, but I know nothing will work…"

"Me too," Fred was oddly relieved to hear that. "Maybe one of us could distract Bill, Kirsten, and Charlie, while the other goes to check up on Ron?"

"That… could work…" George adorned a thoughtful look. "It'll have to be a big distraction, though. All three of them are keeping an eye on us 'children'."

Fred felt a spark of life ignite in his hollow chest, one of them could check up on Ron! Fred walked over to the window, and he tossed the piece of coal as far away as he could. I don't need this anymore. Fred then turned back around, and he quickly recovered their 'bag of gags' from under the loose floorboard.

"What do we have in there?" George sat down besides Fred.

"Before we do this," Fred looked up. "We need to figure out who gets to go see Ron…"

"You can go," George said immediately, and Fred blinked at him. What? I can? Really? "I know when you're trying not to cry, Fred… You can go, but you'd better come back and tell me everything."

Fred felt his eyes sting a little, and he nodded his promise.

"I still plan to ask our 'friends' some questions," George looked back at the bag. "If they knew about this, then I want to know how they found out before us. And I want to know why they didn't tell us."

"George… Don't do something that we'll both regret," Fred said slowly. "I know that look…"

"Oh, I'll be very discreet," George said in a distant voice. "Very discreet, indeed." I should probably stay in order to stop him, but I also want to see Ron.

"I suggest an explosion," Fred said as he looked back at the contents of the bag. Sorry Harry, Neville, and Hermione, but I can't stay here while Ron is in trouble.

---

Ten Minutes Later

Fred casually made his way down towards the Kitchen, and he even managed to ignore the crying coming from Ginny's room. I'll share what I learn with her as well. Maybe that'll make her feel better? If such a thing is possible right now, that is. Just hold on, Ron, I'll be there as soon as possible.

Once Fred was in the Kitchen, he spotted the Trio speaking to each other in hushed whispers. Curiosity ran through Fred's veins, but he decided to let George handle the Trio. They look downright suspicious right now. Maybe George is right about them knowing about this before us. Harry's sharp eyes spotted Fred, and the Trio quickly stopped talking.

"Fred… How are you feeling?" Harry asked with a sorry look.

"Harry, I'm sure he's devastated…" Hermione said in an apologetic voice.

Fred said nothing to them, choosing to pour himself a glass of water instead. The Trio exchanged looks, but given the day's events, they decided not to press him. They lingered about for a few moments, and then went back to discussing whatever they were discussing before his arrival. C'mon, George… What's taking you so long?

Just as Fred finished his glass of water, a deafening boom shook the entire Burrow. The sound of glass, and wood, being shattered caused uproars of panic from each floor, but Fred was as calm as a Wampus before pouncing. He could hear the Trio shouting, but it was Charlie and Kirsten's yells that caught his attention. He turned to see them running up the stairs in a hurry, their wands brandished. As loud as that was, the damage can be fixed with a simple Reparo.

"Everyone, upstairs now!" Charlie ordered, and Fred made to follow him.

"C'mon, you three!" Fred shot a 'panicked' look back, and the Trio hurried after him. "Go on! Follow Charlie!"

Fred stepped aside at the stairs, and he couldn't help but feel a little guilty when he realized how scared they looked. Hermione looks ready to faint. Oops. Fred stomped his feet in order to imitate footsteps, and just as the Trio vanished from his sight; he turned around and bolted for the fireplace in the Living Room. I'm coming, Ronnie!

Much to his relief, there was no one inside the Living Room. Fred quickly took out the last vial of their 'Sneaky Scoundrel Draught', and he poured it over his head and clothes. We're still testing it out, but it should make me invisible for around ten minutes. That's enough time for me to sneak into the Hospital Wing, check up on Ron, and then come back. I can do this!

Fred quickly grabbed a pinch of floo-powder, and he tossed it into the fire. Now, where did dad go?

"The Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts," Fred said quickly, and when the fire blazed green, he all but jumped through it. Please don't be in your Office, Dumbledore.

Fred found himself standing in the Headmaster's Office, and he shot a quick look towards Dumbledore's chair. The old wizard was shooting a quizzical look in Fred's direction; he was clearly confused about his fireplace acting up. Shit! He's here! I need to hurry! Fred moved as silently as he could, often shooting glances back at the old wizard.

"Mr. Weasley…" Dumbledore said just as Fred reached the door, and Fred's body seized up. FUCK! How does he know that it's me?!

Fred kept his mouth closed, and after a few seconds, he realized that he was also holding his breath. Do a runner, Fred!

"Minerva is patrolling the fifth floor, so I suggest that you take the Moving Staircase down," Dumbledore said, and Fred turned around with a baffled look.

Dumbledore was just smiling in his direction, his eyes twinkling as they usually did. Avoid the fifth floor… Got it.

"Thank you," Fred said, and Dumbledore went back to his paperwork.

Fred hurried out of the Office, and once he was past the Stone Gargoyle, he all but flew towards the Moving Staircase. The further he got, the more his nerves began to give out. What if he's really hurt? I don't want to see something like that. What if dad lied about his current condition in order to spare us the messy details? Fred did his best to quash his cowardice, and just as any Gryffindor would, he kept pushing himself forward. It wasn't long before he was standing in front of the doors leading into the Hospital Wing, and before his mind could come up with more reasons to bail, he squeezed himself through a small gap in the massive doorway. I'm in!

The first things that Fred saw were two curtained off beds, and behind the curtains were shapes that looked familiar. Ron's bed is behind one of those curtains, and the adults surround him. How do I do this without my wand? Fred tiptoed closer and closer, stopping only once he was in front of the two curtains. I'll go right first. Fred stuck his head through a small opening, and peered inside. Wrong bed…

The Greengrass and Davis Family were talking to each other in hushed whispers, and from what Fred could make out, it sounded like they were discussing Ron and Greengrass' relationship.

"… best to end it before they grow too attached..." James Davis was saying.

"… should be her choice…" Mary Greengrass frowned. What are they talking about? Do they want Daphne to stop dating Ron?

"… only hurt her worse later…" Sebastian Greengrass argued against his wife. I should probably tell Ron about this when he wakes up.

Fred pulled his head back, and then he quietly approached the other curtain. Just like before, he used a small opening to look inside through. Arthur Weasley, Xenophilius Lovegood, and Sirius Black blocked Ron's person, and Fred frowned a little. I can't see him from here. I'll have to get inside, and then go around those three. With the elegance of a cat, and Fred shimmied his way into small space. Now to get around the blokes. Fred tiptoed around them, his head craning in an effort to see Ron.

And there he was… Pale as a ghost, and as dead looking as a Vampire. Fred's stomach sank at the sight of him, especially because he was hoping that Ron was in better shape. I don't think he'll be coming home tomorrow. Fred's mother and Mrs. Lovegood were sitting to Ron's left, and Fred slowly walked up behind them in order to get a better look. Is he meant to look this pale? Something isn't right here.

Fred knew that the Draught was going to run out soon, and that he needed to make his way back home before that, but as he stood staring at Ron, he felt the urge to stay. In the end, it didn't matter what Fred wanted, because Bill Weasley burst into the small space through the curtain.

"Bill?" Arthur looked quite surprised to see his eldest son. BILL?! No! I'm fucked now, aren't I?!

"Is Fred here?" Bill asked as he surveyed the area.

"Fred? Why would Fred be here?" Molly asked with a bewildered expression.

"George set off a bunch of fireworks inside the house, and in the ensuing chaos, Fred went missing," Bill reported, and Fred nearly growled from anger. Little tattletale traitor… "I think he's come here to check up on Ron himself."

"Sweet Merlin," Sirius looked almost impressed.

"Don't look so pleased," Arthur sighed out. "Bill, we haven't seen him." I need to leave before that changes.

While Bill went into further details about George's complete lack of remorse for his actions, Fred made for the small crack behind Bill. I need to get back to the others before this Draught runs out. Hopefully, Charlie's not guarding the fireplace back home.

---

Ginny Weasley's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Burrow – Night)

Ginny could do little but stare as Charlie went berserk on George, calling him names that made Ginny's ears burn. As for George, he just smirked as arrogantly as he could in response.

The news about Ron had been… overwhelming. Ginny had scratched her left forearm skin to ribbons due to her mind-numbing mixture of personal guilt and fear. She was terrified for Ron, especially because Arthur Weasley hadn't once said that Ron could be saved. This, mixed in with her guilt over hitting him, had been enough to send her into a state very similar to that of her post-Diary days.

She couldn't think straight, and it felt like her brain had been dipped in a jar of oil. And on top of all of this, she had just learned that Astoria Greengrass knew more about her brother than she did. Despite everything that had happened between her and Ron, Ginny still felt rather possessive over him where Astoria was now concerned. I know that she only found out because she was there when he was diagnosed, but it still doesn't feel fair to the rest of us. Even if we fight, we're still siblings.

"Get the fuck out of this room!" Charlie bellowed, while Kirsten just stared at her boyfriend's rage with a disappointed look.

"But… This is my room," George said almost pleasantly, and Charlie hand clenched into a fist. "Lucky for you, I have to use the loo… So I'll be out of your hair while you fix this mess up."

"Piece of shit bastard," Charlie grit out, while George hurried out of the room with an amused grin.

"Show's over, everyone," Kirsten sighed out, and everyone in the hallway moved out of George's way.

The Trio, Ron's friends, and Greengrass had all been attracted by the loud bang, while Luna had continued sleeping through the explosion. She literally cried herself into a coma of sorts. I should ask her if I can do anything to make her feel better when she wakes up. She might not want to be my friend, but I can still help her feel a little better.

"Can I talk to you three?" George asked the Trio, coming to an abrupt halt.

"Us?" Neville asked, and George gave a curt nod. Wait… Something's different. He's not amused anymore, I can tell just by looking at him.

"You really ought to apologize to Charlie first," Hermione said. "Is this really a good time to be playing pranks?" She has a great point. What's wrong with you, George?

"Why did you cause the explosion?" Ginny spoke up with a hoarse voice.

"You'll see," George replied. "Now, let's go have a chat."

George put his arm around Harry, and he all but hauled Harry downstairs. Neville and Hermione quickly followed after their friend, and Ginny, after a moment of curiosity, decided to see what George was up to. Maybe she just needed a distraction right now, or maybe it was just her Gryffindor intuition, but Ginny knew that some form of fight was about to happen. As she entered the Kitchen, she found Percy frowning at George for his latest stunt.

"Sit here, Harry," George planted a confused Harry on the nearest chair. "I have some questions for you, and you'd better answer them properly. I'll know if you're lying."

"Lying?" Harry blinked.

"George, what are you doing?" Ginny gave her brother an annoyed look.

"You're being a little too aggressive," Hermione scowled.

"Am I?" George asked. "Oh, I'm sorry… I've just had a really wretched day, and all I want are some answers."

"What sort of answers?" Neville asked, while Percy cocked his eyebrow at George.

"I want to know how you three knew about Ron this entire time," George replied, and Harry didn't hide his guilt very well. Wait… Did they actually know about Ron? No way. He'd never tell them. Would he? I'm not even sure anymore.

"Look… I don't want to lie to anyone…" Harry sighed out. "But it's not a good story…"

"Wait… George was right?" Percy asked, looking rather surprised and annoyed at the same time.

"Harry, it's the right thing to do…" Hermione whispered, and Ginny just gave her 'friend' a betrayed look. She did know! And she never told me! How could she do that?!

"Well?" George demanded. "How did you find out? And why didn't you tell us?"

"It wasn't my place to tell you," Harry replied, but George didn't seem too satisfied with that answer. "And as for how we found out… That was all on me. Hermione and Neville had nothing to do with it, alright? I… I was looking into Ron…"

"Looking into Ron?" Percy asked with narrowed eyes. "What does that mean?"

"He was spying on your brother," Greengrass said from the stairs, and Ginny shot her a quick look. So she also got curious? "I don't know much, but apparently, Harry Potter doesn't quite trust your brother."

"This has nothing to do with you," Hermione frowned at the younger witch.

"Oh, ignore me, then," Greengrass rolled her eyes.

"You don't trust Ron?" George asked slowly. "What? What is that supposed to mean?"

Harry looked rather uncomfortable discussing this, but right now, Ginny didn't care much for his comfort. She was far too intrigued by this to simply let it go.

"Before I start, I have to say that I was wrong," Harry admitted his fault right from the start. "I… I understand now that I was just feeling jealous of Ron, and that doesn't make him a bad person…"

"Jealous of Ron? Bad person?" Ginny asked. "Harry, what did you do?"

"I followed him around for a while," Harry looked to Ginny with a sorry look. "I went through some of his personal things, and in my search, I found pictures of his brain scans."

"Brain scans?" Percy looked cold now. "You broke into Ron's personal things?"

Ginny looked towards a guilty Hermione, and when their eyes met, Ginny couldn't help but frown in anger.

"You both knew about this?" Ginny asked Hermione and Neville.

"We did, and we tried to stop him," Neville said. "But saying that, Harry was also trying to look out for all of you… I know it doesn't sound like he was, but he-"

"Neville, don't," Harry stopped his best mate. "You were right from the start… I shouldn't have done what I did in the first place…"

"So, from what I understand, you stalked Ron because you were feeling jealous of him?" George asked, he hadn't expected to hear such a petty thing. "Why would you, of all people, feel jealous of Ron? You're Harry Potter!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Greengrass piped in again. "Ron's the stronger wizard, Ron is close with Albus Dumbledore, and even the adults listen when Ron speaks."

"What's your problem?" Hermione turned around with a huff.

"My problem is that Ron should get rid of you three before you drag him down further," Greengrass looked an awful lot like her sister all of a sudden. "Do you have any idea how often people in Slytherin try to stab Ron in the back because of his continued association with you? Now, I don't really care much for House Politics, but I do care about Ron, and he's done nothing to warrant such repulsive behavior from his 'friends'."

Greengrass then shook her head, turned on her heel, and marched up the stairs. You know, Ron also mentioned that he gets in trouble for being friends with Gryffindors, but I didn't really care to hear that at the time. This definitely adds to his stress, so why does he keep being a friend to the Trio?

"Is what she said true?" Percy questioned. "You really did something so… underhanded… because you were jealous of him?"

"Yes," Harry admitted shamefully.

"Harry," Hermione shot a frown towards the stairs.

"When did you find out?" Ginny asked Harry, she too was starting to get angry. "How long have you kept this from us?"

"It's been a while," Harry replied as he looked down at the table.

"You three…" Ginny was left feeling quite hurt. I thought they were my friends… But Ron was definitely right… I'll never be one of them. No matter how much time I spend with them.

"Ginny…" Hermione started.

"Don't start with me," Ginny hissed, her right hand finding her left forearm. "You've known about this for ages, but you never thought to tell me? I thought we were friends."

"We are friends," Hermione said quickly. "But Ron… This is far too serious, and we gave him our word that we wouldn't tell anyone. Especially you guys."

"So it's Ron's fault now?" Percy asked.

"What? No," Hermione quickly ate her words. "What I meant was that Ron's also our friend-"

"But you broke into his personal belongings," George cut her off. "Yeah, I'm not buying what you're selling…"

"Hermione and Neville didn't break into anything," Harry suddenly sounded much more like himself. "I was the one who saw the brain scans, and I was the one who found that book on brain injuries. I found out everything."

"And you told them?" Percy looked to Neville and Hermione.

"Yes," Harry replied.

"No, he didn't," Hermione contradicted him, much to everyone's confusion.

"Which story is true?!" Ginny snapped, this was so frustrating. They're trying to defend each other, but all they're accomplishing is mass confusion!

"Harry did find the book, but I… I Cursed him in order to see what he found out," Hermione admitted, much to Harry's annoyance. "I… I just wanted to help Ron, but I was wrong to go that far… I regret what I did, I swear…"

"You Cursed Harry?" Ginny was genuinely shocked, while Hermione bit her lower lip nervously.

"So, to sum it up, Harry was jealous of Ron, and so, he started investigating Ron," Percy looked ready to start handing out detentions. "You two knew about his invasive behavior, but you two didn't stop him. And eventually, he learned something that he shouldn't have, but you, Hermione, decided to Curse your own friend in order to find out what was wrong with Ron."

"Yes…" Hermione admitted weakly.

George, Percy, and Ginny were truly appalled by this story, especially Ginny, who had seen the Trio as her closest friends at Hogwarts. They did all that, and they never once spoke to me about it. How many times did they just lie to my face?

"And does Ron know about your behavior?" George asked coldly.

"He found out…" Neville sighed out. "We promised him that we wouldn't tell anyone, but he's been distant with us ever since."

"I wonder why," George shook his head. "I don't want to sound like Percy, but Merlin… I'm actually disappointed in you three…"

"Neville really didn't do anything wrong here," Hermione decided to at least save Neville from being hated. "Harry and I… We both took things too far, but Neville was always against it. He's the only one of us three that Ron still treats like a friend…"

"Don't sound so upset about Ron disliking you," Ginny couldn't control herself. "I thought we were friends, Hermione, but you don't know what that word even means!"

Ginny went to storm upstairs, but knowing that Greengrass was currently in the room with a sleeping Luna, Ginny instead barged out the back and into the cold night. They known for so long, and they never told me! How many times did they speak to me knowing full well that my brother was dying?! Ginny felt truly wretched now, and once again, she began clawing her left forearm. Stupid! Just like Tom said! I'm so stupid!

"Ginny, I'm really sorry," Hermione caught up to Ginny outside. "I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't! You have to believe that!"

"I don't have to believe anything!" Ginny roared as she turned back around. "You're such a hypocrite! You spent months telling me to treat Ron better, but at the same time, you were stalking him!" Harry was stalking him! How could Harry Potter do something so pathetic?! "You actually stalked a person! You found out about his most guarded secret, and still expect him to be your friend?! What's the matter with you three?!"

"It sounds really terrible when you say it like that…" Hermione shrunk in her spot. "But it just… It didn't feel so cruel at the time… I thought we could help him, and even though he was really angry, I couldn't understand why… But I do now, and when he comes home, I'll speak to him. I'll apologize properly…"

"And me?" Ginny narrowed her eyes, her fingers digging into her skin through her clothes rather painfully. "I don't get an apology?"

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you," Hermione apologized, but Ginny didn't feel any better.

"I thought we were really close…" Ginny couldn't mask her hurt. "But Ron was right about you three…"

"What?" Hermione looked up. "Ron said something about us?"

"He told me that no matter what I do, I'll never be your real friend," Ginny cleared her eyes with a harsh swipe. "And he was right! You, Hermione, can't be friends with people because you think you can do whatever you want! You lie to me for ages, and still lecture me on being kinder towards Ron? You constantly ask me to open up, while you keep secrets like this from me? I… I don't even know what to say to you! Leave me alone!"

"Ginny, it's freezing out here…" Hermione looked genuinely demoralized. "At least come inside…"

"Sod off," Ginny said angrily. "Liar!"

Hermione went to say something, but no words left her mouth. Instead, she shot Ginny a sorry look before skulking back inside the house. Ginny glared at where Hermione was for a few seconds, and then, she walked over to a nearby bench and sat down with her knees in her lap. Her brain felt even heavier than before, and she couldn't help but wonder why Ron didn't expose the Trio himself. None of his actions make any sense anymore… I wish he were here so I could speak to him. At the very least, I want to say that I'm sorry for hitting him… Merlin, I've never felt so wretched about something before. What if I made his Brain-Damage worse by hitting him in the face?

Ginny's stomach tightened at the thought, and she squeezed her knees against her chest. This didn't feel like Christmas Eve anymore… It felt like a very real nightmare.

---

William Weasley's POV

Thursday 24th December, 1993 (The Burrow – Night)

The dinner table had a cloud of melancholy hovering over it. Fred and George were the only ones who were speaking, but no one could make out their hushed discussion. Sirius had somehow caught a 'whiff' of Fred just as Fred was nearing the exit of the Hospital Wing, and after being scolded by their mother, Bill had dragged an angry Fred back home for dinner. Although he didn't appreciate their stunt, he knew that the twins just wanted to check up on Ron. Just like Percy, they're going to try and help him. Maybe some good will come out of this after all. At the very least, they'll stop fighting each other for a while.

Bill looked to the Trio, who weren't really eating their food. Harry was drawing circles in his mash potatoes, Neville just looked guilty beyond reason, and Hermione kept shooting nervous glances at a fuming Ginny. I clearly missed a lot while I was chasing Fred down. Bill then looked to Luna, and she too was drawing circles in her mash potatoes.

"I know today's been horrible for everyone," Bill decided to break the silence. "But you all have to eat. Ron's coming home tomorrow-"

"Unlikely," Fred glared at Bill. "I saw how pale he was. He's probably going to spend his Christmas all alone in that stupid Hospital Wing." Why am I being blamed for this? I didn't choose to keep this a secret. I've always asked mum and dad to tell the others.

"Well, we came here to spend our Christmas with Ron," Tracey spoke up in a calm voice. "So, we'll be going to the Hospital Wing tomorrow. You can all come with, and they won't be able to turn us all down at the door."

"Count us in," George said, his eyes lingering on a still upset Charlie.

"Madam Pomfrey has other patients, and she doesn't need all of you storming her workplace," Charlie kept his eyes fixed on George. "Ron will be home. He's a tough bastard, and he'll walk this off like it's nothing." Even you don't believe that.

"He's right," Bill said. "Just be patient-"

"Easy for you to say," Ginny mumbled sourly, and Luna looked to Ginny before quickly averting her gaze. "You've known all along…"

"For what it's worth, he wanted mum and dad to tell all of you," Charlie stepped in to defend Bill. "Ron didn't want this getting out, and in the end, we chose to respect his decision."

"Well, it was a stupid decision," Percy said, which earned him a surprised look from the twins.

"Has this mess achieved a miracle?" Fred asked George.

"Is Percy's head now out of his arse?" George asked Fred.

"Oi!" Bill frowned at the two of them. "Can you two stop for once?"

"Why do you always start on him?" Ginny asked the twins.

"Can I eat upstairs?" Draco asked Bill, who rubbed his face tiredly.

"Yes…" Bill replied. Ron's friends don't need to listen to this. If anything, they actually know how to handle situations like this from experience.

Draco grabbed his plate, and he left without another word. Theo nudged Tracey, and the both of them also stood up and left. The others watched them leave, but not a single person said anything about it.

"Actually, I'll go with them," Astoria stood up suddenly; she wasn't really a fan of watching other people fight. "Luna, do you want to come with me?"

"No, I'll stay here…" Luna sounded like a kicked puppy.

"If you're sure…" Astoria sighed, and then she left to go spend time with like-minded people.

This left the Weasley children, and the Trio, to dine in silence. Bill thought about saying something comforting to his hurting siblings, but honestly, he didn't know what he could say. They had been the last to find out about Ron, and so, they were rightfully hurt because of it, but at the same time, Bill knew that they all wanted to help Ron. That's just how we were raised. Family is all we've ever had. They don't understand this yet, but mum and dad did an amazing job with their Family.

"Bill told me a lot about Ron," Percy said suddenly, and everyone looked to him. "About his treatment methods, and his symptoms. Bill, tell them what you told me."

"Yes, tell us," Fred said quickly. "What are his symptoms?"

"Oh, before you do," George looked to the Trio with a cold stare. "Sorry, but Family only." What?

"George," Bill said. "What's the matter with you?" Aren't you friends with them?

"Yes, Family only," Ginny joined George, her agitated eyes fixed on Hermione. What the…? What is this?

"What's the matter with you lot?" Charlie asked as he looked between the children. "Why are you always fighting each other? And why are you acting this way towards our guests?"

"They've been spying on Ron," Percy said, and Bill blinked at him. Spying? Wait… Didn't Harry 'look into' Ron a while back? How did they find out about this?

Bill looked to the guilty looking Trio, and he realized that the Trio had confessed their crimes. That Gryffindor nobility… It's such a pain in the arse sometimes.

"Wow… He knew," George sounded disgusted. "Look at him! He knew about this as well!"

"So mum and dad also know that these three were stalking Ron?" Fred asked, and the Trio shrunk even more. "Were you three even punished for doing something so criminal? I mean, Fred and I aren't saints, but we don't dig around in people's personal lives for information to use against them."

"Enough!" Bill finally snapped, and everyone went dead quiet.

Even Charlie went silent at the sight of big brother Bill losing his temper.

"They are our guests, and you will not use Ron's illness as an excuse to dishonor this Family," Bill ordered. I sound like Aunt fucking Muriel now! Dammit! "Harry, Hermione, Neville… Please go upstairs while I deal with my siblings."

The Trio didn't need to be told twice, and they quietly made themselves scarce. This display only served to annoy Bill further. I love my siblings, but they are so temperamental. Hopefully, they'll mellow out with time and some maturity.

"I get that you're all struggling right now, Gods know that I struggled a great deal as well, but this sort of behavior is exactly why Ron didn't tell you anything," Bill started his lecture. "Most of you have been ignoring him, and now, you're in his corner? Just like that?"

The twins and Ginny didn't look too happy to have their rude behavior pointed out.

"Should I leave as well?" Kirsten whispered to Charlie.

"No, you'll stay right here," Bill ordered, and Kirsten nodded quickly. "As for you lot… Mum raised us better than this. Those three are our guests, and they don't deserve to be treated so coldly by their own friends. They, like you, have done stupid shit where Ron is concerned. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. From everything I've heard, none of you are free of guilt either. So don't treat our guests like enemies just to make yourselves feel better."

"Right now, we need to focus on how we can help Ron," Bill went on. "And the Trio want to help as well. They made mistakes, and they're trying to fix them. Just like you. So I won't tolerate this sort of behavior again. I swear to Merlin, I'll go and fetch mum right now if you backtalk me on this. Am I clear?"

"Crystal…" Fred drawled, and Bill gave a curt nod. "Tell us about Ron's symptoms." Did he hear a single word I said?

"All you need to know is that Ron needs less stress in his life, which means that you will all stop fighting him," Bill said, his eyes darting to Ginny. "No more fighting."

Ginny averted her gaze; she clearly understood that she was the one who fought with Ron the most.

"Now, I have some books in my room," Bill stood up. "Books that Daphne bought in Paris… These books have helped the rest of us a great deal, and I'll give you each a quick lesson on them. And I mean all of you. The Trio included." I can't tell them that they need to stick together through the war. Merlin, if we told them about the war now, they'd go mental. How did everything get so fucked so quickly?

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

Dream Hogwarts

Ron stood at the edge of the Black Lake, or rather, what was meant to be the Black Lake. Instead of black, cold water filling the lake, there was a maelstrom of shadow and light spiraling with abandon. Ron wanted to jump into it simply because he was curious about what lay in the center of this chaos. Maybe this maelstrom was his soul? Thoughts like this didn't seem bizarre in such a place, and Ron did his best to find meaning behind what he was seeing.

The Entity was nowhere to be found, which was actually a good thing if Ron was being honest. He hated coming to this place. He hated speaking to the Entity. He hated how scared he was of the horror living inside his head. Every time he spoke with the Entity, he was left scarred and full of doubts. Ron understood that the Entity wanted this reaction from him each time, and he also understood that the Entity was constantly trying to manipulate him.

"But it won't work," Ron said in a dull voice, the maelstrom dancing in his eyes. "I can't let it work… Or I'll turn into him."

Ron looked up, and he saw that the crows were still circling him. He had seen this murder of crows before… The Ron who murdered everyone in his Cycle. Everyone not worth murdering, that is.

"Keep making noise, cunt," Ron rolled his eyes at the birds. "I know that the Entity is trying to show off your power to me. I'm not as stupid as you all think. I know what you're all trying to do. You're trying to fuck me over, just like those damn Veelas. Well, I won't be fucked. Not by a dead cunt like you."

Ron kicked some dirt into the maelstrom, why was he stuck here? I've walked everywhere, but there's no exit. I even tried Occlumency, but it was just a waste of time. Either I'm not good enough at it, or the Entity controls everything that happens in here. Ron decided to walk up to the castle once again. Maybe it'll be open now.

The ground beneath his feet felt damp, and if he looked hard enough, he could see cracks everywhere. This place keeps looking worse and worse. Fucking hell, I'm not going to last much longer. I need to hurry things along somehow. What's the point of seeing the Future if I'm too dead to actually change anything? Ron wasn't even sure how he had ended up here. He remembered the pain in his stomach, and he remembered falling on his face like a clown, but nothing beyond that. Daphne has no doubt found me by now… Fuck… Dating me must be a traumatizing job.

As Ron approached the grim looking Courtyard, he saw that the massive front door was now open. What the…? Ron looked around for any sign of the Entity, but there was nothing that indicated its presence. This… feels like a trap. Ron slowly neared the open doorway; he had never actually entered 'Dream Hogwarts' before. Is it just like the Hogwarts out there? Unlikely. This place is meant to be my mind, right?

Ron crept into the castle like a thief in the night, making sure to keep his eyes peeled for an angry God. The Entrance Hall looked just like Hogwarts', with the exception of the House Hourglasses. Instead of being filled with colorful gems, the Hourglasses were filled with a black gooey substance. It's… moving… What is this? Ron slowly approached the Gryffindor Hourglass; he could hear faint whispers from inside.

"Harry… Hermione… I'm sorry…" his voice rang out, and some of the goo turned into his horrorstruck face.

Ron quickly stepped back, his eyes as wide as dinner plates. What the fuck? Is that…? Is that a past life of mine? Ron slowly looked at the other Hourglasses, and he felt his blood freeze over. These were all Rons, weren't they? The Entity is collecting us, and then organizing us by Hogwarts Houses? What in the actual fuck?

Curiosity welled up inside him; maybe he could set these past Rons free? Ron walked back to the Gryffindor Hourglass, and very cautiously, he put his left hand on the smooth surface. He could hear their cries of despair. He could taste their fear. He could feel their regret over failing their loved ones. I'll end up in here if I fail, won't I? Terror seized him, and Ron felt the urge to scream. Why was he stuck in this nightmare of a life in the first place?

"You left them…" his voice whispered from the glass.

"I didn't mean to…" another voice wept. "I wish I never left the tent… I wish I never touched that Locket… Was always weak… Nothing like my best friends…"

"We can't win…" a child's voice croaked. "He can't be destroyed… Mum found my body, I think… Poor mum…"

Ron pulled his hand back as images of a scared child jumping to his death bombarded his mind. This one was only eleven when he died… Merlin, these poor bastards are the Entity's trophies, aren't they? Ron looked around the Entrance Hall again, what other secrets were in here? He felt something calling out to him from deeper within the castle, and Ron felt rather petrified. He wanted to go to the voice calling him, but fear had a way of making someone think twice. What if this really is a trap? I… I don't want to get hurt…

Ron suddenly slapped his own face.

"Stop being a coward," Ron scolded himself. "Just… Just find a way to free these other Ron's first."

Ron looked back to the Hourglasses, a slightly determined look on his face. I can't use Magic here, but if I topple this thing, it should break. Ron slipped into the small gap between the wall and the Gryffindor Hourglass, and once his back was pushing against the Hourglass' cool surface, he began to push backwards. C'mon! Fall over! The Hourglass, as large as it was, began to lose its balance. Just a little more-

A hand suddenly lunged at Ron's throat from the side, and within a heartbeat, Ron was yanked out of the small gap and sent flying into steps. The landing was painful, but it was nothing compared to the Entity shattering Ron's right ankle with a powerful stomp. Hot white pain shot up Ron's entire body, and he heard himself screaming his heart out as he desperately tried to grab onto his crushed ankle. FUCK! FUCKING FUCK!

"You motherfucker!" Ron screamed through the pain, and he even tried to struggle as the Entity yanked him up by his hair.

"Your gift… Your heritage… Your burden…" Sirius growled, black ooze spilling through his dagger sharp teeth. "We have fixed your broken head ball… No more dreaming…"

"You're hurting me!" Ron screamed as his hair was ripped off of his skull, but his screams fell on deaf ears.

The Entity's fingers latched onto Ron's face, burning any flesh that they touched.

"FUCK!" Ron tried to shove his attacker away, but the overwhelming smell of burning meat sapped the life out of him.

He didn't even feel being sent flying into a wall, nor did he feel the Entity breaking his other ankle.

"You should not be here…" the Entity spoke, its voice was now distorted and even more frightening. "Free them at your peril… Old souls can't exist in this frail body… Stupid puppet... Do not interfere… This was a mistake…"

Ron dangled about as the Entity slammed him around the Entrance Hall; his mind had turned off in an effort to save itself. And then, everything just stopped. Ron no longer felt Sirius' burning hands on him, nor did he feel the weight of his body being thrown about. He just laid there, a bloodied and broken mess. His bones shattered, and his flesh quivering from fear and shock. He knew he was crying, but he had no control over what his body was doing at this point. Some part of him even understood that he had soiled himself during the attack, but none of that mattered.

This is what he deserved for trying his luck. There was no winning against the Entity, and there never would be. In the end, Ron would end up in Slytherin's Hourglass, his pain and misery a lesson to the next Ronald Weasley.

---

Friday 25th December, 1993 (The Hospital Wing – In the Dead of Night)

Inaudible voices rang in his ears; it was as if they were speaking some cosmic language not meant for mortal ears.

"WAKE UP!" came the Entity's desperate yell, and Ron's eyes snapped open.

He immediately sat up, his hands finding his face. Terrible flashes of torture echoed in his mind, and Ron let out a scared whimper as he looked around for the Entity. Without his knowledge, his body had turned into a ball for protection. And yet, there was no attack. Ron waited, and he waited, and he waited… But nothing happened.

Slowly… Timidly… Ron began to take in his surroundings. There was color around him… Nothing vibrant, but just enough to let him know that he wasn't alone with the Entity anymore. I'm safe? A haunting shiver passed through him, and Ron hid his face behind his trembling hands. His body was in perfect condition, but his mind felt alien to him. It was still stuck in the attack, and Ron felt extremely disorientated because of that. His hands kept flinching up to stop an assailant that wasn't there anymore, and he couldn't stop his body from tensing over and over again.

For a very small moment, which felt far too long, Ron thought about throwing himself from the Astronomy Tower. He longed to be free, but what he had seen in Dream Hogwarts stopped him from acting on his self-destructive thoughts. He'd end up in a fucking prison forever if he failed. A prison created by the Entity. Ron stumbled out of his bed, his shaking legs carrying him towards the nearest corner. Without thinking, Ron hunched over in the small space for safety, his eyes scanning the room for any danger.

It was cold in the Hospital Wing, and Ron's bare feet felt icy. My ankles! Ron quickly inspected his feet, and upon finding them uncrushed, a little bit of relief washed over him. I can still walk… I'm not there anymore. I'm back in the real World. C'mon, Ron… Break free. What are you doing? His traitorous body refused to listen to his recovering mind, and Ron felt like he had been split in two. His mind was telling his body to move around, but his body kept rocking back and forward because it was calming his mind down.

"Broken…" Ron twitched painfully, his jaw popping as his fingers twisted abnormally. "We'll break them too…"

Ron suddenly found himself standing in front of the giant window at the end of the Hospital Wing; his crimson, toad-like eyes reflected in the clear glass. He could see the Quidditch Pitch from here, and beyond it, the Forbidden Forest itself.

"Lord of Serpents," Ron hissed with genuine hatred, his sharp black nails scratching the window. "We will feast on your flesh…"

A monstrous tongue slipped past Ron's dagger sharp teeth, he had never felt so ravenous in his life. His bones cracked under his skin, and Ron found himself twisting in unnatural ways. And yet, it felt all too natural. It was as if he had always been able to twist his spine in two. He could feel a pressure building behind his monstrous eyes, as if a tidal wave of blood had been unleashed inside his skull.

"We bleed into ourselves," Ron growled, his left arm twisting backwards. "Change is good…"

---

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This feels like a good place to leave it =)

I'm back with the creepy cliffhangers! Feels good!

See you guys on the next weekend!